SYDNEY: Fast bowler Mitchell Starc will rejoin Australia’s squad in Adelaide on Monday to prepare for the first Test against India after he withdrew from the Twenty20 International series due to a family illness.
Starc will travel to Adelaide with several other members of the Australian side and the Indian team on a charter flight, Cricket Australia said on Sunday.
“We feel for Mitch at this difficult time and were happy he has taken time out to spend with his family,” Australia head coach Justin Langer said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming him back into the squad on Monday.”
Starc’s return was also welcomed by fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood as Australia continue their push for a spot in the International Cricket Council’s World Test Championship at Lord’s next year.
“It’s obviously great news for us to have Starcy come in tomorrow,” Hazlewood told reporters on Sunday. “He’s a huge part of our team and a huge part of our attack. Everyone knows his numbers with the pink ball are pretty special so we welcome him with open arms.”
Starc will only have two full days of practice with the pink ball ahead of the day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval, but Hazlewood said the disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic meant teams were used to changed schedules and preparations.
“If we’ve learned anything from this series it’s that nothing goes to plan,” Hazlewood said. “I’m sure this hiccup will be no different for Starcy.
“He’s a professional and he would have been doing everything he could over the last week and obviously once he comes into camp he’ll jump straight in and be ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Australia, already without David Warner, face major selection problems heading into the first Test after incumbent opener Joe Burns flopped again on Sunday in the final warm-up game and Marcus Harris fared little better.
Burns managed just one at the Sydney Cricket Ground before being trapped lbw by Mohammed Shami, leaving him with only 62 runs from nine first class knocks this summer.
He has scored only 4, 0, 0 and 1 in his four innings for Australia ‘A’ against India ‘A’, and selectors have plenty to ponder.
Warner will miss the Test with a groin tear and his likely replacement, rookie Will Pucovski, was ruled out by concussion after being struck on the helmet by a bouncer in a warm-up match last week.
Harris, who hasn’t played a Test since being dropped after the Ashes in England last year, was drafted in as Pucovski’s replacement.
But he scored only five on Sunday, also falling to Shami, to go with his first innings 26, although he has been in excellent touch in the Sheffield Shield this season.
Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2020
