After missing India tour, Mitchell Starc eyes return in Pakistan ODIs

Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc saw both the low and high of cricket this summer. He had an ordinary outing against in a four-match Test series against India taking 13 wickets and the critics were running out of patience to see his back. But in the following two-match series against Sri Lanka, Starc was back in full form and claimed 12 scalps, including a 10-for in the second match in Canberra to be adjudged the Man of the Match.

The 29-year-old, who completed 200 wickets in Tests during the Sri Lanka series, has now been sidelined by an injury but is eyeing a quick return. Starc is not a part of the limited-overs series against India starting February 24 after he sustained a pectoral muscle injury during the second Test. The bowler is confident of making a return to the national side ahead of Australia’s five-match ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE in March.

“The UAE [tour] is around the 15th of March so if all goes to plan I should be pretty sweet to be available for that one. Obviously the boys go to India, hopefully, it’s a good tour for them there. I don’t think I’ll be ready for any stage of that. So, it’s up to the rehab group and the selectors and see how the rest of this summer goes,” Mitchell Starc, who plays for New South Wales, told cricket.com.au.

Australia have also rested Hazlewood and Cummins for India series

Along with Starc, Australia also rested pacers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, who won the man of the series award against the Lankans, for the India series.

The Pakistan series will be Starc’s last chance to regain shape for the World Cup starting in May. The Aussies will play three practice games against a New Zealand side and two warm-up games before launching their campaign at the big event. Australia will play Afghanistan in their first match of the tournament in Bristol on June 1.

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