Mitchell Starc opts out of T20I series: Why is Mitchell Starc not playing today’s 2nd T20I between Australia and India?

Dixit Bhargav | 06/12/2020
Mitchell Starc opts out of T20I series: Why is Mitchell Starc not playing today's 2nd T20I between Australia and India?

Mitchell Starc not playing: The Australian speedster has withdrawn from the ongoing three-match T20I series against India.

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the ongoing three-match T20I series against India. Having traveled from Canberra to Sydney, Starc informed the Australian team management about leaving the biosecurity bubble due to a family illness.

Starc, who registered bowling figures of 4-0-34-2 which included wickets of India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and all-rounder Washington Sundar in the first T20I at the Manuka Oval, won’t be available for the remaining two T20Is.

It is worth mentioning that there has been no update on whether Starc will be available for the first Test between Australia and India which will commence in Adelaide from December 17.

Why is Mitchell Starc not playing today’s 2nd T20I between Australia and India?

Speaking on their spearhead’s exclusion, head coach Justin Langer extended support to the 30-year old player by laying emphasis on the importance of family.

“There is nothing in the world more important than family and in this case Mitch [Mitchell Starc] is no exception. 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,” Langer said in a statement.

As far as Starc’s replacement for the last two T20Is in Sydney is concerned, Australia haven’t named any because of the presence of Daniel Sams and Andrew Tye in the squad.

Apart from Starc, Australia have also lost the services of opening batsman David Warner and all-rounder Ashton Agar due to respective injuries. The likes of captain Aaron Finch and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis are also injured but still remain a part of the squad.

In addition to opening batsman D’Arcy Short and spinner Mitchell Swepson, both of whom played the first T20I, Australia have also included Test spinner Nathan Lyon to their T20I squad.

Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav
Australia India India tour of Australia 2020-21 Mitchell Starc

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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