Smith backs returning Starc to be at his menacing best

Australia captain Steve Smith believes that pace spearhead Mitchell Starc will be at his imposing best on his return in next month's triangular series against West Indies and South Africa in the Caribbean.

The 26-year-old left-hander has not played since suffering a stress fracture in his foot during the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last November. He missed Australia's tour of New Zealand before the World Twenty20 in India in March.

Reflecting on Starc's impending return, Smith said the left-hander was looking fresh and bowling at good pace while expressing hope that he would have an intimidating effect on the South African and West Indies batsmen in the upcoming series, news.com.au reported.

Smith, who was forced to cut short his Indian Premier League campaign with a wrist injury, also admitted that he had fully recovered from his injury.

Australia will their first match of the tri-series against the West Indies in Guyana on June 5.