Mitchell Starc to return from injury in ODI tour to the West Indies
5 hours ago by BEN HORNE Source: The Daily Telegraph
MITCHELL Starc has been selected to make his long-awaited return from injury in the June ODI tour of the West Indies.
The superstar fast bowler was sorely missed during the World Twenty20 as he completed his rehabilitation from surgery to remove spurs in his ankle and a separate operation to fix a fracture in his foot.
However, Starcs recovery has gone to plan and selectors will use the tri-series against the Windies and South Africa in the Caribbean as an ideal way to reintroduce the left-armer to international cricket ahead of the winters No. 1 priority the Test tour of Sri Lanka in July.
Nathan Lyon is back in the one-day squad after missing out on the World T20, but on the flip side, wicketkeeper Peter Nevill has been overlooked despite impressing in India with Matthew Wade retaining his place behind the stumps in the 50-over format.
Meanwhile, South Australian young gun Travis Head is set to make his ODI debut after a breakout domestic season, and blooding in the T20 international side back in January.
But the big selection buzz surrounds Starc, who broke down during the pink ball Test in Adelaide way back in December and has not played since missing Test series against the West Indies and New Zealand as well as the World T20.
National selector Rod Marsh said Starc was ready to lead Australias white ball attack into battle once again.
Mitchell has progressed very well in his rehab and the medical staff are confident he will be fit to play in this series, said Marsh.
Its extremely pleasing to have a bowler of his calibre back in the side.
Head gets his chance in an extended 16-man squad after established batsmen Shaun Marsh was rested from the tour so that he can be home for the birth of his first child.
The 22-year-old Head has enjoyed a breakout season in all forms of the game and appears the next batsman on the horizon for all Australian teams.
An ODI tri-series is the perfect opportunity for Head the Sheffield Shield player of the year to find his footing.
Travis has put in some matchwinning performances in all three formats of the game this summer, said Marsh. He is an exciting young batsman with a bright future and if he gets his opportunity, I have no doubt he will make the most of it.
Marsh said Lyon was recalled to the ODI squad due to an expectation the pitches will be slow and take turn in the Caribbean.
Lyon deserves his opportunity, but whats curious is the same logic wasnt used in getting him in Australias squad for the World Twenty20.
On pitches that spun plenty in India and against opposition teams that went spin heavy, Australia went with Ashton Agar as their second spinner and after one horror over in match one, they chose not to select him again.
Nathan has bowled very well in the West Indies in the past and we are predicting we will see some slow, turning pitches, said Marsh.
Adam (Zampa) has impressed us in India during the World T20 and has bowled consistently well, and with confidence, when given his opportunity.
AUSTRALIAN SQUAD: Steve Smith (cart), David Warner, George Bailey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa
