In a desperate attempt to end their woeful run in recent months, Australia are planning to play Mitchell Starc in the second Test despite the bowler being in danger of breaking down due to the heavy workload. The Australian pace spearhead bowled 49.4 overs in the first Test at WACA and it was expected that the injury prone pacer would be rested in the second Test starting on November 12. However, Australia’s head coach Darren Lehmann hinted the left-arm pacer will play the Test. Josh Hazlewood, who bowled 54 overs in Perth is also expected to play. Moreover, injury to Peter Siddle has left Australia depleted in the pace department and it is highly unlikely that the hosts will rest their star players after losing the first match.

Both the bowlers were seen bowling in nets and Lehmann was convinced that his pacers are good to play in Hobart.

“If we were going to do that (rest Starc), I wouldn’t have thought he would’ve bowled today,” Lehmann said on Thursday.

Lehmann insisted his team will never select a bowler if he is not fully fit.

Lehmann said: “We make the final call (selecting underdone or overworked pacemen) … it’s always a challenge. We’ve always said if the bowler’s not 100 per cent fit, he won’t play.”

“They bowled today so they’re fine, but you’ve got to take the players’ word for it and trust them a little bit,” Lehmann added.

“The pleasing thing with the bowlers is they’re very forward with their info,” the former Australian cricketer said.

The Australian team has been recently criticised for the failure to manage the pacers’ workload effectively.

Criticising the current technology that monitors the workload, Johnson said:“We’ve been doing the sports science stuff for the past 10 years and we’re still getting the same results.Something has to change, definitely.”

Former fast-bowler bowler Merv Hughes also criticised the team for the situation that has left the pace department of the team severely depleted. However, team physio David Beakley defended the steps taken by the team management and said that resting the players is not a solution to the issue.

“The notion that bowling workload monitoring is about restricting bowlers from bowling is certainly not the case from our perspective,” Beakley said. “It’s about building up their loads in a smart way so they’re adequately prepared for what they’re going to face in the match. That’s the basis behind it.”