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Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has encountered a series of injury setbacks recently, resulting in his absence from the initial two One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against India. His injury struggles commenced during the Ashes series in 2023 when he sustained a troublesome shoulder injury. This ailment lingered and subsequently prevented him from joining Australia’s tour of South Africa, citing “groin soreness” as the cause.
Despite these challenges, Starc remains a crucial figure for the Australian national team, especially considering the imminent ODI World Cup 2023, scheduled to commence on October 5 in India. His potential return from these injuries is eagerly awaited, as his pace and skills are seen as valuable assets that can greatly impact Australia’s performance in the tournament.
Mitchell Starc’s hopeful return and ODI World Cup aspirations
Despite enduring injury setbacks, Starc remains optimistic about his impending return during the third ODI in Rajkot on September 27. He views this comeback as an opportunity to help Australia regain momentum as they prepare for the upcoming 50-over cricket extravaganza, the CWC 2023.
” That’s obviously the priority. Hopefully I get a roll out in game three, and if not, we’ve got those two warm-up games (in Thiruvananthapuram on September 30 and Hyderabad on October 3),” Starc was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
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Starc, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury and “groin soreness,” is determined to make a significant impact upon his return to the field. The 33-year-old shared positive news about his recovery, indicating that his shoulder is responding well to treatment, and his groin injury has shown marked improvement, thanks to an extended period of rest and rehabilitation.
” There was a few things going on during the Ashes, which we found out post-Ashes. There was a little bit going on in the (groin) region … so that’s obviously lengthened the recovery time. The shoulder has been good since the Ashes; it’s just making sure that I was ready to go for the World Cup and not compromising that,” the Baulkham-hills born cricketer added.
Starc expressed his thoughts on the team’s recent performances, noting that they were playing well but faced challenges in closing matches strongly, particularly against South Africa. However, he holds high hopes for the team’s upcoming matches against India, aiming to secure victories and build essential momentum as they prepare for the ODI World Cup.
“I’ve spent some time through my career watching from the side so it’s never enjoyable watching when I’m hoping to contribute. The guys have been playing some good cricket, it was disappointing not to close out that series in South Africa. Now, it’s all eyes for the World Cup and getting used to conditions here in India. Hopefully, we can… take some momentum into the World Cup,” the left-arm speedster concluded.
As the ODI World Cup draws closer, the hope is that Starc can regain full fitness and be a force to be reckoned with on the cricket field.
