Mitchell Starc is in doubt for Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign, with the fast bowler to undergo ankle surgery.
Cricket Australia on Thursday confirmed the left-armer, whose injury has ruled him out from the current Test series against the West Indies, has met with specialists and will go under the knife.
“We believe the best course of action would be for Mitchell to have the surgery for his ankle impingement now while he is currently laid off with the stress fracture in his foot,” team physiotherapist David Beakley said.
His return-to-play timeframes will be clearer once the surgery is complete, but it is unlikely he’ll be available for the ICC World T20.
The tournament starts in India on March 11, and if Starc is not fit in time, his likely return to international cricket will be Australia’s tour of the West Indies in June.
Bone spurs in Starc’s right ankle have been managed throughout the year but caused the 25-year-old obvious discomfort in the closing days of Australia’s three-Test series against New Zealand in November.
Head selector Rod Marsh has already ruled Starc out for Australia’s two-Test tour of New Zealand in February.
“In an ideal world we’d like to have him playing in the (T20) World Cup. It may happen,” Marsh said at the start of December.
A date for Starc’s surgery will be confirmed in coming days.
vineet kumar
Roar Rookie
W-T20 squad must contain at least 4 bowlers who can hit 145kph...or Australia have no chance of winning a game in group.- my 14 men squad-Warner,Finch(C),Wade,Smith,Watson,M Marsh,S Marsh,Faulkner,Maxwell,NC Nile,Hazlewood,K Richardson,B Stanlake,J Paris.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Huge blow to Australia's World Cup T20 chances - Starc is arguably the most valuable T20 player in the world. They look no hope now of challenging for that title. Their bowling attack will be a complete unknown - no Starc, no Cummins, Johnson retired, spinner(s) uncertain.
fp11
Guest
I think his foot need to recover a bit before they could operate.
fp11
Guest
Good move!
JGK
Roar Guru
For the greater good.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It was always logical to do that. I'm surprised it's taken them this long. I thought they might get in and do that surgery asap after he was ruled out with the stress fractures to get into the recovery process and bring forward his possible return date. He was always going to need the surgery and was just a case of managing pain and trying to get to a point where he can have the surgery while missing as little cricket as possible. That hasn't worked, so while he's in a situation of having to stay off the foot anyway, get the surgery done. Such a pity he won't be fit for the series in NZ. The conditions over the really do suit his bowling as seen in the World Cup where he almost won the match for Australia despite the low score Australia managed.