Rod Marsh doubts Australia’s injured spearhead Mitchell Starc will be back for the two-Test series starting in New Zealand on February 12.
Starc will miss the upcoming three-Test series against the West Indies due to a stress fracture in his right foot.
Bone spurs in Starc’s right ankle have been managed throughout the year and the left-armer wants to keep delaying surgery.
However, at some point he will need to go under the knife to fix the issue.
“If it’s two different lots of surgery, we might not see much of Mitchell for a little while,” chairman of selectors Marsh cautioned.
Australia start a two-Test series in New Zealand on February 12, with the Twenty20 World Cup to follow in March.
Bowling coach Craig McDermott was upbeat on Sunday that Starc could be fit in time for the trip across the Tasman.
Marsh gave a significantly different timeframe on Tuesday.
“We’d love to have Mitchell Starc playing against New Zealand in the Test series. I don’t think that will happen,” Marsh said.
“In an ideal world we’d like to have him playing in the (T20) World Cup. It may happen.”
Starc spoke to reporters on Monday and seemed genuinely unsure when he would be fit enough to bowl.
The left-armer will spend the next three or four weeks in a moonboot before being reassessed by team medical staff.
“You’ve got to think of the kid’s health. The medical people always keep that in mind,” Marsh said.
“He’ll be back when he’s back. In the meantime we’ve got to get on with it.”
Marsh reiterated his mantra that selectors needed to call on a 10-man pace battery.
“Because they just don’t get through a lot of Test matches in a row,” he said.
Australia’s pace depth will be tested by Starc’s injury, which follows Mitchell Johnson’s retirement and another serious back injury for Pat Cummins.
Digby
Roar Guru
Pity, was hoping to see him live.
JGK
Roar Guru
He has said that if got the ankle fixed he would miss the T20 World Cup in March.
fp11
Guest
Free country buddy. It was just my opinion. My comment was never about my medical expertise. Just an opinion.
fp11
Guest
Selectors don't make anyone have surgery. Read this: "Marsh said selectors were not looking to persuade Starc to use his stint on the sidelines as an opportunity to have the ankle surgery he needs to repair bone spurs. "If . . . [he also had the ankle surgery] then we mightn't see much of Mitchell for a little while," he said. "He'll be back when he's back. In the meantime we've got to get on with it." While the selectors will not attempt to change Starc's mind about surgery, the team's medical staff may do so, depending on what specialists have to say after examining Starc later this week. "Given that Mitchell now has a lay-off with his foot injury we will take this opportunity to meet with specialists in Sydney this week to get an opinion on whether or not surgery is required at this point in time for his ongoing ankle issues," CA team physiotherapist David Beakley said." Selectors clearly not happy with Starc being stubborn.
Jameswm
Guest
No offence but don't you think the doctors - experts - actually assessing him would have more idea than you?
fp11
Guest
Starc should fix both things at the same time (bone spurs and broken foot), instead of having two spells away from cricket. Whoever is giving him advice is not doing the right thing by him. Silly IMO! And it appears that selectors would like him to the exactly that.
jamesb
Guest
For NZ conditions, its probably not a bad thing to see Starc miss the tour. Bowlers like Bird and Sayers could come into calculations as those bowlers might enjoy the NZ pitches
JGK
Roar Guru
Shame. He'd be lethal on NZ wickets.