BREAKING: Mitchell Starc To Miss First ODI vs India, Confirms Pat Cummins
Starc was set to return to action in the first ODI vs India (X.com)
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc will not play in tomorrow's opening ODI fixture against India, set to be played at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia, confirmed that the left-arm quick is yet to fully recover from 'groin soreness' which he sustained after traveling to the United Kingdom (UK) for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final and the Ashes tour.
However, Cummins is hopeful that Starc will feature in the final two ODIs against the Men in Blue.
In addition to Starc, Glenn Maxwell, who was slated to make his comeback on the international stage, will not play in the opening ODI either, confirmed the Australian skipper. The duo, as well as Cummins, were not part of the Australian squad which travelled to South Africa lately for an ODI series.
“I am feeling pretty good; my wrist is all healed now. I am hoping to play all three games. Starc won’t be playing tomorrow; I hope he will be well bowled later in the series, same with Maxwell. We are trying to have a balance between getting a match time to everyone in the middle as we are going to the World Cup in a couple of weeks," Pat Cummins told the reporters on Thursday (September 21).
"He (Steve Smith) is all good, he will play tomorrow, he has a few hits, and his wrist seems 100 percent fit."
Cummins, however, is optimistic about taking part in all three ODIs against India.
Australia will play three ODIs in Mohali, Indore, and Rajkot in the next seven days. Following that, the Kangaroos will start preparing to compete in the ODI World Cup.
Interestingly, Australia’s World Cup campaign will also begin against India, on October 8 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
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