Mitchell Starc likely to miss ICC World Twenty20

Australian bowler Mitchell Starc has conceded that he is unlikely to be fit in time for the ICC World Twenty20, which gets underway in March.

The 25-year-old, who was named the Player of the Tournament at the most recent one-day international World Cup, suffered a stress fracture to his left and also underwent ankle surgery in November.

There had been suggestions that the left-armer may be available for the competition in India, but Starc has insisted that he will not rush back.

“I don’t want to rush it. I want to make sure it’s 100% because I’ve rushed back before and been dropped after a game,” he told Cricket Australia.

“I’ve played non stop for nearly two years, so the silver lining is that I get to give the body a bit of a break and get back and rebuild that strength and make sure everything is 100% before I go again.

“It’s disappointing I’ve missed half the summer and the likelihood of a [T20] World Cup, but the silver lining is that I’ve got everything right and I don’t have to play through that ankle injury any more.

” The Aussies have been drawn in a group alongside India, New Zealand and Pakistan.