Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell’s delayed comeback was confirmed by Australian captain Pat Cummins on Thursday, who cited a “long list” as the reason.
Both players will be absent from Mohali’s opening game against India on Friday. The 18-man Australian team traveled to India for the three-match series, which would serve as their final World Cup warm-up.
Starc and Maxwell were both picked in Australia’s squad for the tour of India. Notably, Starc was exercising at the Mohali-based Punjab Cricket Association. When Australia’s three-match ODI series against India was played earlier this year in March, Starc’s most recent ODI appearance occurred. The series was won by Australia 2-1.
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In the press conference, Cummins said, “We have got plenty of people at different stages. I am feeling pretty good, my wrist is all healed now, hundred per cent. I was running around at the nets, this afternoon. I hope to play tomorrow. Hoping to play all 3 games.”
“Trying to think of a long list. Starc is here, (but) he won’t play tomorrow. But hopefully, he will be available later in the series. Yeah, he won’t play tomorrow. But I hope he will come on and play a part later on. He had been bowling in Sydney. He will bowl today or tomorrow. We are all tracking him. The time frame is similar for Maxwell,” he added.
Owing to a wrist fracture he sustained during the final Ashes Test, Pat Cummins missed the tour of South Africa, and Steve Smith missed the South African series owing to a wrist tendon problem.
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While Glenn Maxwell was unable to play in the South Africa series due to an ankle problem related to his leg injury from the previous year, Mitchell Starc withdrew due to groin tightness.
Prior to the world cup, Cumming emphasized the significance of the series and said it would give former champions a chance to determine their “combination,” including whether they needed a “second spinner.”
Cummins, though, wants his team to be revitalized in preparation for the World Cup.
“We need to get used to these conditions, hopefully winning some. But also, we don’t want to get to that first game being cooked. No doubt, we will try a few different combinations, a few different players will be tried,” he added.
“But hopefully, we will structure our team similar to how we will play (At the World Cup). So, batters batting at their positions, as a captain I want to get used to how you use your bowlers here, which may be different to say South Africa or back in Australia. Does the second spin play a part? Hopefully, we will get some answers in the next few games,” he added.
Australia will play a 3-match ODI series against India from 22-27 September, followed by 2 warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup.
Australia ODI squad for India series
Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
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