India vs Australia | Mitchell Starc recalled to T20 squad to cover for Billy Stanlake
Mitchell Starc has been added to Australia’s T20I squad for the last match against India in place of Billy Stanlake who sprained his ankle during warm-up ahead of Friday’s game at the MCG. The result of last night’s game was inconclusive after rain prevented India from batting in the second innings.
After winning the opening T20 against India by a narrow margin of four runs, the morale in the Australian dressing room must have been high as they took the field against the visitors on Friday night at the MCG. However, after the home team scored 132/7 rain interrupted play and prevented India from taking the crease in the second innings. This ensured that the visitors will have a chance to tie the series in the last and final T20I on Sunday at Sydney Cricket Ground.
But Australia will be without the services of Billy Stanlake, who sprained his ankle during pre-match warm up and was not included in the matchday XI on Friday night as well. After the match washed out, skipper Aaron Finch announced that Stanlake was ruled out from the finale on Sunday after suffering a moderate grade ankle sprain.
“He started to find some really good rhythm in Brisbane and he’s been around the mark for quite a while. He obviously had a tough tour of England and to come back and have that time to get his body right and start to feel good again, it’s unfortunate he tripped on the rope and went straight over (on the ankle),” Finch told reporters.
Instead, the Aussies have recalled left-arm pacer, Mitchell Starc, to the T20 squad who will be in contention for a place in the starting XI for Sunday’s match. Starc, who played his last T20 for Australia back in 2016 against Sri Lanka in Colombo, will hope to get an opportunity in the final T20 before the Test series.
“(Starc has) got so much experience in the limited-overs games as well and we’ve seen how dominant he can be when he gets it right with the ball. We’ll have a look at the wicket this afternoon and discuss the side but coming straight off a Shield game with an eye on the first Test, his preparations will be really good,” Finch added.
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