George Bailey says World Cup teams fear his teammate Mitch Starc more than they fear the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, amid statistics demonstrating just how vital the left-armer has been to Australia's one-day fortunes this summer.

As teams attempt to grapple with the carnage regularly inflicted by batsmen in the last 15 overs of an innings of late, Starc has been economical without sacrificing the wicket-taking ability for which he is renowned in limited-overs matches.

In the eight one-dayers Starc has played this summer, starting with the November series against South Africa, he has bowled just over 33 overs across the batting powerplay, when only three outfielders are permitted, and the last 10 overs of a full-length innings, boasting a record of 17 wickets at an average of 9.29. Not only has he conceded just 4.76 runs an over but he has been hit to the boundary only 13 times in those 33.1 overs, meaning he more often dispatches batsmen to the dressing rooms at the toughest time to bowl than they dispatch him to or over the rope.

So far in the World Cup the tall left-armer has only 6.2 overs at the end but has four wickets at an average of 6.5, having conceded 4.11 runs an over. On both average and economy rate he ranks above Tim Southee, Lasith Malinga and South Africa duo Steyn and Morkel.

His overall one-day record for the summer is 29 wickets at 15.52 and 4.49 runs an over, well below the team average of 5.4.

Bailey, who has captained Starc this summer more than anyone else, hailed the New South Welshman's ability to build on the encouraging signs he had demonstrated throughout his career and become a more complete bowler now.

"He's certainly come on in leaps and bounds," said Bailey on Tuesday.

"I'm just really proud of how consistent he has become, because the player he is and the impact he can have we were seeing glimpses of that once or twice a series, but for him to be able to put that on the park consistently is just huge. It's making a real impact for us."

Rather than just rank comfortably alongside Steyn and Morkel in term of the level of apprehension generated among rivals, Bailey argued Starc was currently "more feared" than them.

"I think he's got some really specific skills at the death that very few guys in the world are able to produce," the Australia vice-captain said.

"That would be weighing on teams' minds. If he's doing that really well, and James Faulkner's skill at the death - Patty Cummins and Joshy Hazlewood do it really well, too - then teams don't know when it is  time to launch, and you can put a bit of pressure on them a bit earlier."

Seven of Starc's past nine victims in the World Cup have been bowled, with his yorkers proving particularly dangerous.

Cummins has not been available since suffering a minor side injury in the loss to New Zealand on February 28, but has recovered sufficiently to return to bowling, meaning selectors are not considering withdrawing him from the squad.

In Starc's 24 matches,  Australia has only thrice conceded more than a run a ball, including only once in his past 18 matches. While Starc made his one-day debut in late 2010 it was not until January that he broke into the ICC's top 10 for one-day bowlers. His 6-28 against New Zealand, which almost dragged Australia to a remarkable victory, lifted him to No.5, and marked his rise above fellow left-armer Mitch Johnson in the rankings.

Bailey argued that Starc's one-day form warranted him getting top billing in the Australia pace attack.

"In many respects he's earned the right now to get the new ball and bowl at the end he wants, that best helps his swing and whatnot," he said.

"To have someone with that sort of strike power, and for the other guys to work around that, is fantastic."

With CHRIS BARRETT

HALTING THE HITTING
Highly rated pacemen who have bowled in the batting powerplay and last 10 overs in at least three matches during the 2015 World Cup.

Mitch Starc (Aus): 6.2 overs, 4 wickets at 6.5, 4.11 runs per over; 4 fours, 1 six.
Morne Morkel (SAf): 13o, 8w at 7.63, 4.69rpo; 2 fours, 3 sixes.
Tim Southee (NZ): 6o, 2w at 12.5, 4.17rpo; 1 four, 1 six.
Dale Steyn (SAf): 15o, 5w at 15.6, 5.2rpo; 5 fours, 3 sixes.
Lasith Malinga (SL): 23o, 4w at 34.75, 6.04rpo; 14 fours, 0 sixes.
Wahab Riaz (Pak): 18.3o, 7w at 16.86, 6.38rpo; 9 fours, 2 sixes.
Mohammad Irfan (Pak): 9.4o, 2w at 21.5, 4.45 rpo; 3 fours, 0 sixes.