Mitchell Starc Granted Leave To Watch Alyssa Healy In Women's T20 World Cup Final
Published - 06 Mar 2020, 04:48 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:04 AM
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Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has been allowed to leave the squad ahead of their third ODI match versus South Africa. He will return home and witness his wife Alyssa Healy take part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 final between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Meanwhile, the Australian men’s team will play the last ODI of the three-match series versus the Proteas who have already wrapped up the series having won the last two matches.
To avoid a whitewash in the series, the Aussies will have to make do without the services of Starc, who has been allowed to return to Australia early.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Mitchell Starc cuts short Australia’s tour of South Africa to Support Alyssa Healy –
He will be expected to be within the stands and support the Australian ladies, his wife Alyssa in particular, when they take on India in the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday, at the MCG.
Australia’s head coach Justin Langer confirmed the news on Friday while adding that it will also be a chance for the 30-year-old to refresh things up ahead of their next series versus New Zealand.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Mitch to watch Alyssa in a home World Cup final and so we were happy to allow him to return home to support his wife and be part of a fantastic occasion,” said Langer.
He continued, “It is something we have been talking about for a while and, given Mitch has had a considerable workload in all three formats this summer, his heading home a couple of days ahead of the rest of the squad means he will have a chance to refresh ahead of our home and away one-day internationals and Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand that will wrap up our season.”
We have able plenty of fast bowling options: Justin Langer
Langer also added that his side has able replacements for Starc for the crucial game against the Proteas.
“We have plenty of fast-bowling options with us here in South Africa with Josh Hazlewood, Jhye Richardson and Kane Richardson all sitting out our previous match in Bloemfontein, and Mitch’s absence will offer one of them an opportunity to impress in Saturday’s match,” said the 49-year-old.
The third ODI between Australia and South Africa will be played at Potchefstroom on Sunday.
