On Wednesday, January 11, Australia’s chair of selectors, George Bailey, confirmed that senior pace bowler Mitchell Starc will miss the first Test against India next month. Cricket Australia named an 18-man squad for the four-match Test series against India, which begins on February 9.
Starc suffered tendon damage and a fractured middle finger on his left hand during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Melbourne last month. He will miss the third Test in Sydney. Despite being named to the Pat Cummins-led squad for the India Tests, Bailey confirmed that Starc will arrive in India later than the rest of the squad members and will miss the first Test.
Bailey told reporters following the announcement of the Test squad:
“Starcy’s (Mitchell Starc) not expected to be available for the first Test, in fact, he’s going to come across to India a touch later.”
During the South Africa Test series, all-arounder Cameron Green was also injured. Green was hit on the glove by Proteas seamer Anrich Nortje during the Boxing Day Test. Green was not named to Australia’s playing XI for the third Test against Dean Elgar and company in Sydney, which was marred by rain.
‘He’s going to come across to India a touch later’ – George Bailey on Mitchell Starc
Unlike Starc, Bailey provided positive updates on Green’s availability for the first Test against India, stating:
“Greeny (Cameron Green), we’re hopeful that he should be right for the first Test.But if not that, that’s okay. We feel like we’ve got the squad that can cover that.”
After four years of domestic success, Victorian skipper Peter Handscomb was called up to the Test side.However, the 31-year-comeback old’s has been hampered by an injury. Handscomb was seen in pain while playing for St Kilda in a club match against Melbourne just hours before being named to the 18-man squad.He hit the second six of the inning before collapsing on the field and retiring hurt.
Bailey provided an update on the wicketkeeper-batter, saying:
“Pete’s (Handscomb) got a scan tomorrow morning to check on that. He’s confident it’s nothing too serious. A bit of a mishap. He just copped a ball on the back hip, and then three balls later he dispatched one and just felt something give a little bit in there”
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