The Ashes 2013-14
Starc set to miss Ashes with back injury
Mitchell Starc
is unlikely to play in Australia's home Ashes campaign after being
diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back. Starc flew home from
the ongoing limited-overs series in England due to back soreness and
scans have shown that his injury will rule him out for "a prolonged
period", almost certainly meaning that he will be unavailable for at
least the start of the Ashes, if not the whole series.
Australia have already suffered similar injury blows in their fast-bowling ranks with James Pattinson sent home from the Ashes tour of England and Pat Cummins
ruled out of the coming home summer, both with stress fractures of the
lower back. Starc, 23, was Australia's third leading wicket taker during
the unsuccessful Ashes campaign in England with 11 wickets at 32.45,
and he would have been a likely starter for the first Test at the Gabba.
"Mitch Starc had scans following his arrival back to Australia and they
have shown an early stage low back stress fracture," Justin Paolini,
Cricket Australia's chief medical officer, said. "His management plan
will be determined in the coming days but he is expected to be
unavailable for a prolonged period."
Pat Howard, CA's general manager of team performance, said it was
disappointing that Starc had succumbed to a stress fracture but that
young fast bowlers were particularly susceptible to such injuries. In
releasing the details of Starc's injury, CA stressed that few fast
bowlers in Australia's history had bowled as many deliveries in Test
cricket as Starc and Pattinson by the age of 23.
"Historically, we've rarely seen three such promising young fast bowlers
come through at the same time and all of a similar age so when they get
injured of course that will be disappointing," Howard said. "We're
doing our best to minimise longer term injuries, but we are also
realistic that such injuries are possible.
"Looking at a comparison of some of Australia's best quicks at the age
of 23, Pattinson and Starc are second and third on the list behind Craig
McDermott in terms of performance. What that tells us is we have a
greater reliance on younger fast bowlers at international level than
ever before and we're getting the most we can out of these talented
young players, who are all coming through into international cricket
together."
However, there was some good news for Australia, with Jackson Bird
cleared of any major injury concerns after he flew home from the Ashes
tour early due to back soreness. Bird, who played only the fourth Test
in Durham and collected two wickets, is expected to be available for the
start of the home Ashes if required.
"Jackson returned home from the tour of England with some lower back
soreness," Paolini said. "We have ruled out a major injury but will
review scans in two weeks to confirm this. We expect that he will be
available during the Ashes."
A big blow - Mitchell Starc from what I've seen is the most promising
young quick on the world stage. Yes he lacks accuracy but that will
come and when it does that left arm in swing @ close to 90mph with the
odd ball above is going to make life hard for batsmen on any surface.
Have a closer look at his performance against Sri Lanka last year in Tassie - there's a lot to like.
Warner/Hughes rogers Watson Clarke smith finch/Bailey/whoever haddin mj
siddle Harris bird/Lyon
Batting lineup seems unknown! Lets hope someone smashes some tons in the
shield and brings that to the ashes series.
Mj will do as well or likely better than starc, bird will probably like
more bounce.
Like mj said lastnight, he's been through his stress fractures has
matured and got experience surely he's first choice left hander?
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