IND vs AUS T20I Series: Major Blow To Australia As Pace Spearhead Starc Ruled Out Of Remaining Matches

Cricket Australia confirmed on Sunday morning that Starc would not feature in the remaining two T20s at the SCG, the first of which is scheduled to take place later in the afternoon today (1:40 pm IST start) and the second slated to be played on Tuesday (December 8).

Mitchell Starc

Hosts Australia have been dealt a major blow in the ongoing T20I series against India as their pace spearhead Mitchell Starc will be missing the remaining two matches of the series after leaving the Australian bubble on compassionate grounds due to family illness. Cricket Australia confirmed on Sunday morning that Starc would not feature in the remaining two T20s at the SCG, the first of which is scheduled to take place later in the afternoon today (1:40 pm start) and and the second slated to be played on Tuesday (December 8). “There is nothing in the world more important than family and in this case Mitch is no exception,” coach Justin Langer said. “We will give Mitch all the time he needs and welcome him back into the squad with open arms whenever he feels the time is right for him and his family.”

As per a report in Cricbuzz, Starc reportedly left the team bubble after learning of a family illness post arriving at Sydney on Saturday. While it hasn't been confirmed when Starc will rejoin the squad, the Australian Test unit will join up at Adelaide next week ahead of the Test series opener of the Border Gavaskar Series, beginning December 17.

Australian Test players begin arriving in Adelaide from as soon as Wednesday, although a later group won’t head there for the first Test until early next week. Starc had missed the third and final ODI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday due to an injury in his rib region, but came back to play in the T20 series opener at Canberra, which the hosts lost by 11 runs. Starc's absence will be a gaping hole in the Australian seam bowling attack as the national selectors have already pulled out seamer Cameron Green from the T20 squad to play in an Australia A game. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins has been rested for the Test series and medium pacer Marcus Stoinis is still recovering form an injury