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Mitchell Starc is desperate for Australia to retain the Ashes, whether that means the incumbent attack playing all five Tests or him getting a chance to shine.

Mitchell Starc has come to grips with the Dukes ball, but Australia's axed spearhead knows it is the Lord's pitch that will determine whether he is recalled on Wednesday for the second Ashes Test.

Starc, who played all five Tests on the 2015 Ashes tour, was dropped last week as selectors made six changes to the incumbent XI for the Edgbaston series opener.

It marked the first time since the home summer of 2014-15 that the left-armer has been available and left out of Australia's Test attack.

A prompt turnaround between the World Cup, in which Starc set a record for most wickets taken at the 50-over tournament, and five-Test series didn't help the express paceman.

But it was ultimately the control offered by Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle on a slow pitch that resulted in him being leapfrogged in the pace pecking order for the first Test, which Australia won by 251 runs.

The good news for the 29-year-old is that coach Justin Langer has made it clear he won't be afraid to tinker with a winning attack, maintaining that Australia will pick the best three quicks based on conditions.

"Everyone prefers to play but it's pretty exciting that the cupboard is full of fast bowlers," Starc said after taking 2-56 from 15.5 overs in a tour game against Worcestershire.

"It makes Josh (Hazlewood) and I have to work that bit harder to try and make it back.

"We want to win this Ashes. Whether that's a different bowling attack each game, or the same through five Test matches.

"We'll wait and see what Lord's looks like ... I'm ready to go."

Starc hopes the Lord's curator produces a similar pitch to that which led to England being skittled for 85 on day one of a recent one-off Test against Ireland.

"If it's anything like that Irish Test match, it's perfect for us bowlers," he said.

Starc had an injury scare during the Southampton intra-squad match that preceded the first Test, having been rushed off for scans after hurting his knee.

But he was cleared to bowl the following day and said on Saturday that his body was "feeling good".

Adjusting to the Dukes ball always shapes as one of the biggest challenges for Australian fast bowlers in England, but there was notably little swing on offer in Birmingham.

"I hadn't held one in four years until I bowled with one in Southampton," Starc said.

"It's nice having them back in my hand and swinging them round.

"We saw the white ball move around a fair bit more at Lord's in the World Cup, so maybe that's the same with the red ball."