Mitchell Starc is hopeful he can recover from a lacerated finger in time to play at least one of Australia’s three remaining ODIs against Sri Lanka, but said he won’t return before the Test series if there’s a risk of reopening the wound.
Starc had ten stitches removed on Thursday after slicing open his left index finger during the first T20I last week and has been comfortable bowling in the nets, but ICC regulations prevent him from bowling in a match with tape on his finger leaving him a frustrated observer in the dugout.
“It is frustrating because I guess I just got a cut in an unfortunate spot that I can't use tape to play with,” said Starc. “So I guess with the Tests at the back end of the tour, not wanting to do more damage by splitting it while the stitches were in and not being allowed to use tape in the game, that's probably why I'm sitting on the bench.
“I’m still bowling and still able to train so, in that regard, I'm physically fit. It's just a cut on the finger.
“There's still a fair bit of glue still in the wound so that will start to dissolve a bit more in the next couple of days. Once we get to Colombo and have a look at it again we’ll see where it's at.”
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Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, comprising three T20s, five ODIs and two Tests, has become an exercise in player management compounded by several injuries and a tight schedule.
The injury concerns deepened when Steve Smith appeared to be in discomfort while batting in Australia’s 26-run loss to Sri Lanka in the second ODI in Kandy.
Smith required strapping on his thigh but played on and will be assessed by medical staff ahead of the third ODI in Colombo.
Kane Richardson returned home after suffering a hamstring injury, Marcus Stoinis was ruled out after the first ODI with a side injury and Mitchell Marsh sustained a calf strain in the second T20I
During the broadcast of Thursday’s loss, which levelled the series at 1-1, Ashton Agar revealed he does not expect to recover from a side injury in time for the first Test.
In the absence of Agar, Australia opted for another left-arm spinner in Matthew Kuhnemann, who took a wicket and claimed a fine catch in his international debut.
If Australia plump for three specialist spinners in the first Test in Galle, Kuhnemann could be a bolter for a second debut as the third spin option alongside Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson to provide variety in attack, ahead of offspinner Todd Murphy and legspinner Tanveer Sangha, who are in the Australia A squad currently touring Sri Lanka.
