Mitchell Starc
is out of the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday and may miss
further matches beyond after complaining of calf soreness following
Australia's opening win at the MCG. The South Australian fast bowler
Kane Richardson has been called into the squad as cover.
As the most durable of Australia's young fast bowlers over the past
year, Starc has played successfully for the national side across three
formats without injury since his Test debut against New Zealand in late
2011. However his spell of six overs in Melbourne, returning the figures
of 1 for 25, resulted in the calf complaint.
The injury marks an unfortunate point in the summer for Australia's fast
bowlers, meaning every paceman in the first Test squad of the season
has suffered an injury of some kind.
James Pattinson was first to break down with a side injury, Peter Siddle
missed the Perth Test due to a hamstring problem, and Josh Hazlewood
had foot stress hot spots uncovered while bowling in the WACA ground
nets. Ben Hilfenhaus suffered side injury in Hobart, Shane Watson fell
prey to a calf strain in Melbourne, and now Starc has suffered
similarly.
While the Australian team physio Alex Kountouris described the problem
as minor, calf trouble is infamously stubborn, as Watson can attest
after suffering a string of the injuries in recent times. "Mitchell
Starc had some mild right calf soreness after the match at the MCG last
night," Kountouris said.
"Whilst we are not majorly concerned about it, we have withdrawn him
from the game on Sunday as a precaution. He will be reassessed over the
next few days and is a possibility to play next weekend's matches
against Sri Lanka if his symptoms resolve."
If Starc's withdrawal is another blow to Australia's efforts to reduce
the amount of injuries suffered by their fast bowlers, Richardson's
call-up is a reward for some of the more eye-catching performances in
domestic limited overs matches this summer, including one haul of 6 for
48 at Adelaide Oval.
"Kane has been called in as cover in the squad due to his impressive
form in the limited overs formats this season," the national selector
John Inverarity said. "This provides another great opportunity for a
young player as we look to build towards Cricket World Cup in 2015."
A part of Australia's winning Under 19 World Cup team in 2010,
21-year-old Richardson has impressed many with his speed, aggression and
the ability to fire in a mean yorker. He may now get the chance to
debut for Australia on his home ground.
Should Richardson be included he will, like the rest, benefit from the
guidance provided by Brad Haddin's presence in the dressing room. The
captain George Bailey said Haddin's influence had been notable in
preparation for the opening match, helping a team of players getting
used to the international game learn from a player with years of war
stories to tell.
"One of the challenges with the group is the lack of experience," Bailey
said. "Having someone as composed as Brad is, not only on the ground
but off the ground in the way he sets up for the game, the way he
prepares, it's something that I take a lot out of. The debutants and the
guys who have played even less than I have would certainly get a lot
out of the way he is.
"I thought he kept beautifully, and even the way he batted, I thought
Sri Lanka bowled quite well at the back end of their innings, but he and
David Hussey just found a way to keep that score ticking over and that
was really important to get that score up around 300."
Bailey was also satisfied by the way his men had blunted the threats
posed by Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis. Both Malinga and Mendis were
expected to be the major threats to Australia's batting, but were to
return the poorly combined figures of 2 for 123 from 20 overs, something
Bailey attributed partly to the new ODI rule limiting the fielding side
to four fielders outside the circle at any one time.
"It's certainly good for our confidence, that we stuck to our plans on
how to play both of them," Bailey said. "One of the advantages we will
have for a brief little period is that we've played the four out rule
for a season and a half domestically.
"That's something that we may have adjusted a little bit better to,
whereas I'm not sure those guys have been exposed to that much. That
does take a little bit of adjustment and a little bit of re-jigging of
your plans. I certainly expect them to bounce back. For our confidence,
to be able to pick off their best bowlers like that was really good."
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