Champions Trophy: Mitchell Starc to become latest Australian fast bowler ruled out of global tournament

Mitchell Starc has ruled himself out of the Champions Trophy, leaving Australia’s bowling attack decimated. Starc’s fast-bowling big three colleagues Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are already sitting out this month’s tournament in Pakistan. Allrounders Marcus Stoinis (retirement) and Mitch Marsh (back injury) have also withdrawn from Australia’s original squad. Starc has played all seven Tests since the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and was the only frontline quick in both of Australia’s Tests in Galle this month. Cricket Australia said he had now withdrawn from the one-day tournament in Pakistan later this month due to personal reasons. He will not play in the two-game ODI Series in Sri Lanka which leads into the Champions Trophy. Starc’s wife is Australian women’s captain Alyssa Healy, who had also had a tough summer after missing several games due to injury. “We understand and respect Mitch’s decision,” Selection Chair George Bailey said. “Mitch is deeply respected for his commitment to international cricket and the priority he places on performing for Australia. “His well documented ability to play through pain and adversity, as well as forgoing opportunities in other parts of his career to put his country first should be applauded. “His loss is of course a blow for the Champions Trophy campaign but does provide an opportunity to someone else to make a mark on the tournament.” Left-armers Ben Dwarshius and Spencer Johnson have been added to the one-day squad set to take on Sri Lanka in the first of two matches on Wednesday and it is expected at least one of them will be included for the tournament. Tanveer Sangha, Sean Abbott and Jake Fraser-McGurk have also been added to the squad named in January. Hazlewood was ruled out of the Champions Trophy after battling side and calf injuries during the home summer and while Cummins missed the tour of Sri Lanka for the birth of his second child, he is also carrying an ankle injury. Big Bash League-winning captain Nathan Ellis is now firming to play a lead role in Australia’s attack, while Abbott is also right in the mix along with Dwarshius and Johnson. Australia play three matches in the tournament’s group stage, beginning against England on February 22. Australia won the Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009 but failed to progress past the group stage at either of the two editions since. “I’d be lying if Champions Trophy isn’t at the front of our minds. It’s a big ICC tournament for us,” Steve Smith said. Bailey acknowledged “the squad has changed significantly over the past month on the back of some untimely injuries and the retirement of Marcus Stoinis”. “We have a range of options to shape the playing XI within the tournament depending on the opposition and conditions we face,” he said. Cooper Connolly, who made his Test debut in Galle, will be a travelling reserve during the tournament. Smith served as stand-in skipper during Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka, earning a 2-0 series win and earning player-of-the-series honours. The veteran batter, who was stripped of the national captaincy as part of sanctions emanating from the ball-tampering sandal in 2018, has now been entrusted to lead the ODI side in Cummins and Marsh’s absence. Smith will play through the elbow issue he first suffered in the BBL last month and aggravated on the final day of the second Sri Lanka Test. “It feels fine. My throwing’s probably going to be limited for a little bit,” the 35-year-old said. “It feels a lot better than it did when I injured it initially during that Big Bash game. It won’t affect my batting.” CHAMPIONS TROPHY SQUAD Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) (c) Sean Abbott (NSW/Parramatta District Cricket Club) Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club) Ben Dwarshuis (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) Nathan Ellis (TAS/Lindisfarne Cricket Club) Jake Fraser-McGurk (SA/ West Torrens Cricket Club) Aaron Hardie (WA/Willetton Cricket Club) Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club) Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club) Spencer Johnson (SA/West Torrens Cricket Club) Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club) Glenn Maxwell (VIC/Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club) Tanveer Sangha (NSW/Campbelltown Camden Cricket Club) Matthew Short (VIC/Northcote Cricket Club) Adam Zampa (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly (WA/Scarborough Cricket Club) With AAP