Injury concerns for Australia as Mitchell Starc limps off field while training, doubtful for Sri Lanka game

Australia received a mighty scare ahead of their second match of the 20-20 World Cup against Sri Lanka as fast bowler Mitchell Starc was seen in some discomfort during training session due to a leg injury. The left-arm pacer limped off the field raising doubts about his participation in the coming game. Starc has recently returned to action after a long layoff of six months.

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During the off-time, he managed to train with his wife and Australia cricketer Alyssa Healy in Queensland. The left-arm pacer also played the team’s first game against West Indies and picked up two wickets. Australia will play their second match against Sri Lanka on Thursday (October 28) but Starc is now a doubtful starter for the game. The medical team is assessing Starc's condition and a decision on his inclusion will be taken before the match.

If Starc is unavailable, then Australia head coach Justin Langer has Kane Richardson fit and available for selection. Meanwhile, Richardson has been a regular member of the T20I squad for Australia for the last year or so. He has played 26 T20Is so far, picking up 29 wickets. However, he was left out of the first match as Langer felt that Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc are the best options against South Africa. Langer though admitted that leaving out Richardson was a difficult decision.

“I can’t emphasise enough how tough it was on Ashton Agar, his numbers are literally outstanding. Tough on Ash and really tough on Kane Richardson, who’s probably, arguably our best death bowler, or a very good bowler in these conditions so it’s nice to have those selection headaches," Langer had said after Australia’s win over South Africa.