SL vs AUS: Still Holding Onto Hope That I Will Play ODIs; Won't Compromise Test Chances – Mitchell Starc

Star Australia National Cricket Team left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc is hopeful of playing the ODI series against Sri Lanka, but he will not compromise his chances of playing the two-match Test series.

Mitchell Starc had suffered an unusual injury during the first T20I against Sri Lanka as he sliced his index finger on a spike from his bowling shoe. Although he completed his four-over quota in the match with his lacerated finger taped up, he had six stitches inserted.

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On Thursday, Starc had the stitches removed and his finger’s recovery process will determine his return to the ODI side for the remainder of the series against Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Starc said that he has an eye on the Test series against Sri Lanka as he is hoping for an ODI return.

“I’m still holding onto hope that I will,” Starc said of his chances of featuring in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

“There’s still a fair bit of glue still in the wound. That will start to dissolve a bit more in the next couple of days. Once we get to Colombo we’ll have a look at it again and see where it’s at. I’m still training. It’s just a matter of where the wound is at, and obviously with one eye on the Test series as well and not compromising that,” Starc was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

I feel really good with the ball in hand – Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc said that he is able to bowl very well in training sessions but he is not playing games because the ICC rules prevent bowlers from using tape on their fingers in the matches. He elaborated:

“I feel really good with the ball in hand. I’ve had to bowl at training with the tape on, and it’s purely that I can’t do that in the fixture due to the ICC rules which is why I’m not playing.

“If it’s game three, four, or five [that I play], I’m not sure yet. We’re just making sure we’re not compromising the Test series [which starts on June 29].”

Several Australian players have been injured on the Sri Lanka tour including the likes of Marcus Stoinis (side strain), Sean Abbott (finger) and Kane Richardson (hamstring), Ashton Agar (side strain), and Mitchell Marsh (hamstring).

During the second ODI Steve Smith pulled up lame while sprinting for a second run and he will be assessed over the coming days. Talking about Smith, Starc said that he is confident that the star batter will be fine for the next game. He asserted:

“I don’t know how sore he is or how much of a niggle he might be. After he got the strapping he played a pretty nice drive through mid-wicket, so I’m sure he’ll be fine to play the next game.”

Also Read: SL vs AUS: Sri Lankan Skipper Dasun Shanaka Calls Chamika Karunaratne ‘Born Warrior’ After Win Over Australia In 2nd ODI

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