Injured Starc in doubt for start of ODIs against Sri Lanka, Richardson added to squad

Colombo: Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been ruled out of the third T20I against Sri Lanka and is in doubt for the early part of the five-match ODI series due to injury. Jhye Richardson has been called into the visitor’s 50-over squad as cover for him.

Starc suffered an unusual injury during the opening over of the first T20I on Tuesday when he sliced his index finger on a spike from his bowling shoe. While the paceman bravely bowled out his four overs in that match with his lacerated finger taped up and picked up 3 for 26, he has since had six stitches inserted.

The left-arm pacer was ruled out of the second and third T20I. He will remain with the squad and will continue to train but he will need a minimum of seven days, and possibly longer, for the wound to heal, which likely rules him out of the first ODI in Pallekele next Tuesday.

Starc could recover in time for the back-end of the ODI series and Cricket Australia is confident he will be in no doubt for the ensuing two-Test campaign in Galle.

“He (Starc) will continue to train with the squad in Sri Lanka and potentially return during the ODI series. His recovery time is unspecified but anticipated to be a minimum of seven days,” CA said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Richardson, who replaced Starc in Australia’s T20I side and took 3 for 26 in the three-wicket win in game two on Wednesday, has been called into Australia’s ODI squad as cover for Starc.

Richardson was initially left out of the ODI squad despite being in the original T20I squad. He was set to play in the two Australia A four-day games in Hambantota that run concurrently with the ODI series in Sri Lanka.

South Australia quick Nathan McAndrew has been called in from Warwickshire as Richardson’s replacement for Australia A. McAndrew has been rewarded for being the Sheffield Shield’s second-most prolific wicket-taker last season with 27 at 30, while also adding 227 runs.

The 28-year-old will arrive in Sri Lanka from the United Kingdom, where he has been playing as Warwickshire’s overseas player.

–IANS