Mitchell Starc boosts Australia in Twenty20 Internationals after two years

Mitchell Starc, Australia’s pace spearhead, was included in the third and final Twenty20 International against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. Starc replaced fellow left-arm pacer Jason Behrendorff in the side as Aaron Finch’s side, currently leading 1-0 in the three-match series, looked to seal a rare series win against Virat Kohli’s India side which are unbeaten in the last seven Twenty20 bilateral series. Australia chose to bat against India but the return of Starc completes a remarkable journey for the left-arm pacer in the shortest format of the game.

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The Sydney Twenty20 game is the first time Starc is playing a Twenty20 international since 2016. The last time the left-arm pacer played in this format was against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa stadium in 2016 and he picked up 1/32 from four overs. Since then, Starc has suffered a series of injuries that has restricted his involvement primarily for Test matches. Starc's inclusion in Sydney will be the first time the left-armer plays a match in Australia since 2014, when he took 1/19 against England at the same venue. 

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Following the series against Sri Lanka, Starc suffered a fractured foot in the Test series against India in Bangalore 2017 and that ruled him out of competitive cricket for a couple of months. This resulted in him missing the entire 2017 Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore as Cricket Australia advised him to undertake a rehabilitation program in order to be fit for the Champions Trophy in England.

Starc came back in style for the 2017/18 Ashes and played a starring role for the team, picking up 22 wickets and helping Australia reclaim the Urn with a 4-0 series win. The Australian speedster did not play in the Trans-Tasman Twenty20 series and in 2018, he was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs. 9.4 crore but he had to miss the tournament due to a right foot injury.

The left-arm pacer will be happy to come back to the Sydney Cricket Ground, a venue where he has enjoyed success in the Big Bash League for the Sydney Sixers.