Mitchell Starc targets the Sri Lanka series for comeback

Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is aiming to make his return from injury during Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in July. The left-arm fast bowler limped off Adelaide Oval in November 2015 during the third Test against New Zealand with foot and ankle problems. Starc has resumed light running as part of his rehabilitation work at Cricket Australia’s National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

Starc has claimed 91 wickets in 25 Tests. The 26-year-old had quickly assumed the role of leader of Australia’s pace attack following Mitchell Johnson’s retirement in early November. Starc says his progress is slow, which means he’s in doubt for Australia’s one-day tri-series against West Indies and South Africa in the Caribbean in June. “But I’m on track. It’s nice to be running again, even though it’s slow. It’s more of a fast walk,” Starc said yesterday.

Having missed Australia’s home Test series against West Indies and Test tour of New Zealand which ended this week with Australia’s two-nil series sweep, Starc will also be unavailable for next month’s World Twenty20 in India and is likely to miss the IPL too. Starc said he was still, at least, a month away from resuming bowling, and his return is set to give selectors a welcome headache. Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle have performed well in his absence while Jackson Bird stepped up in New Zealand.

“It’s nice to be doing things in the gym. It’s a silver lining and it’s nice to be able to have a pre-season before I start playing again. Hopefully, I’m not too far away. The big one is the Test tour of Sri Lanka. That’s first and foremost, making sure I’m 100 per cent ready to go for that one. If I’m ready for the West Indies tri-series beforehand then that is a bonus, but the Test matches are up there for me to be right and available for,” Starc told cricket.com.au. Meanwhile, fast bowler Pat Cummins is also expected to be back to full fitness for the tour of Sri Lanka.