Mitchell Starc has been Australia’s premier bowler across formats for a while now.
Since his debut in 2010, Starc has 354 wickets across formats at an impressive average of 24.70.
Even though Starc initially impressed in the limited overs format, over the last couple years, he has become one of the go to bowlers in Tests as well for Australia.
The Aussie left-arm quick though over the last two years has been plagued with injuries.
Mitch has just made a comeback into the Aussie line-up for the UAE Tests after missing few ODIs and T20Is due to injury.
The Australian selectors now have included him the T20 squad for the series against Pakistan once this Test series is over.
As we all know the conditions in UAE are not ideal and with Starc already playing the two Test series, do Australia really need him in T20Is?
Mitch Starc. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Starc hasn’t played a T20 since September of 2016, international or otherwise. He hasn’t played an ODI game for Australia since January 2018.
Australia since January 2017 have played 16 T20Is and have won 10 of them. The top bowlers for Australia during that period have been Andrew Tye with 26 wickets and Billy Stanlake with 16 wickets.
The most economical bowler during that time for Australia has been Adam Zampa.
I don’t think Australia are missing Mitchell Starc in this format anymore.
The World Cup is just around the corner and Starc will be crucial for Australia’s success in England. The last thing Australia need is having him injured and get sidelined for the marquee tournament.
If Australia still wanted to play a left-arm quick they could have easily picked someone like Jason Behrendorff who just made a comeback.
Behrendorff made his debut against India last year and bowled brilliantly in the second T20I, picking up 4/21 in an Australian win.
Mitchell Starc will be bowling in the two Tests in UAE in that heat and the last thing the team management need is to play him in couple of meaningless T20Is.
World T20 is still two years away and I think the priority for the team right now should be the World cup 2019.
The selectors and team management will do well to take care of their premier fast bowlers by resting them properly.
Rellum
Roar Guru
If you want him to get more rest he is better staying for the t20 games. If you want him to avoid injury he is better of playing the t20 games as they are much easier on the body than FC games that he would play if he went home. None of what you are saying holds up. It is different to kohli missing a test.
Akkara
Roar Rookie
I think Starc is best in the ODI format particularly at the end of the innings. Also due to the financial benefits of playing the T20 tournaments, he should be playing 3 hrs of T20 when he is not playing for Australia. As for test, I suspect he is too prone to injury for the rigours of test, and I don't believe he will last a 5 test series. It will also cause him to be continually in and out of the teams due to injury.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
I agree, He will be crucial for Australia T20 WC campaign in 2020. I agree that he should not be playing any T20 until after the WC.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Yup Kohli rested the Afghanistan Test and also the Sri Lankan ODI/T20 series last December. He did not play in Asia cup as well. So it is about managing your best player. Starc does not need to play this T20 series. Australia have done well without him over the last 2 years and at this point the team will not miss him much.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
I think that Starc is in Australia’s best Twenty20 team, however I don’t think that he should play Twenty20 cricket until after next years World Cup. After the World Cup I’d rest Starc from all ODI squads but pick him for the Twenty20 team. For the time being, the Australian Twenty20 bowling attack should be: Coulter-Nile Tye Zampa Behrendorff After the 2019 World Cup the bowling attack should be: Starc Coulter-Nile Tye Zampa
Paul
Roar Guru
Absolutely it is, It's all about player management these days. If the guys monitoring his health think he should play certain games and not others, it is all about keeping him on the field for the games which count, eg India Tests, World Cup, etc. How this is managed will vary from player to player but to think he he should play games because they're internationals just doesn't cut it in this millenium. Wasn't it Kohli who missed Afghanistan's first Test when he could have played?
Rellum
Roar Guru
They are just as likely to injure themselves at training or at home. That is not a valid reason for them not to play any international or State game.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think you're massively underestimating the chances of injury from what is a nothing T20 series, given the workload these guys have to get through in the next 9 months. These guys don't bowl 4 overs then walk off the field, they're involved for the full 90 minutes. Surely it makes more sense for him to come home then decide his programme from there? Ditto with Lyon, if we lose either of these two guys to injury or overbowling, with Cummins and Hazleweood no certainties to play the first Test, we're going to get hammered by the Indians
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
He needs to be used in short burts 3-4 overs at a time by the captain. Making him bowl long spells is not a great idea.
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
I'd be more inclined to rest him from tests played on heartbreak roads for a quick (like this current series). These tracks will finish him off faster than T20.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
He needs to bowl but not in those T20 games. The 12 overs he might bowl over the course of probably 10 days is not going to help him in anyways. JLT Sheffield Shield 2018-19 season starts on 16th October. He should play in that to prepare for the home season. What's the point of these 3 T20 games other than a money making venture for PCB?
Rellum
Roar Guru
I think you guys are massively over estimating how tough a T20 game is. He will get more rest staying over there than he would coming home and playing State cricket. He needs to bowl, I don't want to see him rest. I want him to come back and bowl more, not stay in the UAE and trundle down for 8 overs over a week or two.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Yup especially when Starc has just returned from an injury. There is no logical reason to play Mitchell Starc in the 3 T20 games. Australia have done well in T20 without Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc over the last couple of years, so they will be okay. No need to risk Starc with a huge summer of cricket coming up.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'd pull both Starc AND Lyon from the T20 squad for exactly the reasons you've outlines Giri. Starc sent dow over 40 overs in this game and Lyon over 75. If the next Test goes the same way, it's likely they'll have to bowl similar numbers. The gap between games is also important. This Test finishes today and it's likely both will have to bat, possibly for a long time. They then head into the next Test which starts on the 16th, so 4 days break. They then finsh that, perhaps in 5 days and head into a T20 that starts on the 24 with 3 days break. All after bowling long spells and fielding in the heat, as well as batting and the concentration required to try and save this Test and maybe the next. Way better to bring them home then work out a schedule when they're here. They've got a ton of cricket to get through this summer and there are others who would benefit far more from playing these 2 games than Lyon or Starc
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
I agree. It will be better for Starc to be back in Australia preparing for the Test series, rather than playing in the UAE heat for 3 more days which has no significance.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Well I would propose if you are asking that you are actually asking that about the game itself. I do think T20 internationals are important. The ICC is going to use the T20's to bring other nations into the game so they are important. I could rant about if that is the right thing to do but at least they are doing something. I actually would prefer Starc playing for NSW getting ready for the Test series and trying to help NSW win the Shield which helps raise the standard of FC cricket and makes our countries cricket better as a whole.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Still an unnecessary risk to play him T20 at the moment. What is the point? What is Australia going to achieve with him in T20 games? I hope he does not play all the three games.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It's only four overs. If he comes back he will be probably playing Shield cricket, unless I guess CA does the usual and dictate who plays for each State.