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Australian Test cricket captain Pat Cummins believes Mitchell Starc is worthy of allrounder status after impressing with bat and ball in the Ashes series.

Mitchell Starc is entitled to be considered an allrounder rather than just a strike bowler, says Australian Test captain Pat Cummins.

The in-form Starc leads the series with 14 wickets at 19.64 and has 117 runs with the bat at 58.5, heading into the fourth Test at the SCG starting on Wednesday.

Joe Root and Dawid Malan are the only English batters to have scored more runs than Starc during this tour.

A couple of not outs has left the big left-hander behind only Travis Head and David Warner in the batting averages and above Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Harris and Cameron Green.

Although his Test career batting average is just over 23, Starc averaged over 40 in 2019 and 2021 and has hit 10 half-centuries in 64 Tests.

He recently moved above England star Ben Stokes into fifth spot on the ICC men's Test allrounder rankings, smashing 44 sixes and scoring at a healthy strike rate of 68.

Cummins insists Starc deserves to be recognised as an allrounder, though he rarely bats higher than No.8 and often switches positions with himself.

"For sure, absolutely," Cummins said.

"He's averaging 50-odd (with the bat in this series) and he's number seven in the runscoring list for this series, he's been fantastic."

Starc has been a key part of the attack which has had some success so far in not allowing England captain Joe Root to compile big scores like he did for most of 2021.

Root has managed a 50 in each Ashes Test but failed to convert any into a century.

"I think he's been batting really well but hasn't played that match-defining knock," Cummins said.

"I think everyone has bowled really well at him.

"As a captain I feel like I've got a lot of options to throw at him which is what you need when you're playing against the best players in the world.

"He's looked good, it's up to us to try and keep him quiet."

Cummins has had a dream run so far as captain apart from missing the second Test.

"Everything has gone perfectly," he said. "I try to be me as much as I can, I'm not trying to impress anyone more than what I normally do.

"I don't think the biggest challenges have happened yet, I'm sure there will be some in the future."