ICC WC 2015: Wasim Akram tips Mitchell Starc to shine at World Cup

Former Pakistan captain and fast bowling great Wasim Akram said Australia, with the likes of Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson in their ranks, have what it takes to win a fifth world title.

Akram, who guided Pakistan to glory at the 1992 World Cup final in Melbourne with a dream performance, said Starc, in particular, could have a career-defining tournament at the upcoming fixture.

"He's got the ability, no doubt about it. He has the ability to make a difference," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Akram as saying..

"He's got the pace, he's got the swing and he's bowling very intelligently to the new batsmen, especially with the new ball."

Akram is so impressed with the 25-year-old Starc that he would pick the rising star ahead of Johnson if it came to balancing the squad.

"Mitchell Johnson is one of the top bowlers in the world but having two of them in the same team is a plus. They're both left-handers, very quick and big lads, and they're different," Akram said.

"On these wickets they'll be impossible to play with their pace. If I had to pick one of them for one-dayers with the new ball I'd definitely pick Mitchell Starc.

"I'm seeing it from the captain's point of view. He's got the swing with the new ball and he's got a brilliant yorker but having two of them is unbelievable."

Starc has proved a hit in ODIs picking up 61 wickets at 20.62 after 32, surpassing the great Brett Lee who had 56 scalps at 24.3 in the same number of games.

Australia are peaking at the right time for a crack at their fifth World Cup triumph and will go into next month's tournament at home on top of the rankings.

Australia's biggest challenge will be how the team handles the external pressures as the host nation that will decide its winning chances. And of course, injury to regular captain Michael Clarke.

The Australians didn't cope in 1992 when they last hosted the sport's showpiece and they missed out on the semi-finals.