Cricket: Australia’s Starc To Skip IPL Before World Test Final

Australia bowler Mitchell Starc will not return to the Indian Premier League when it resumes on Saturday(Today).

Starc, 35, has played in all 11 matches for Delhi Capitals, who remain in contention for the play-offs, but will not travel back to India, with Australia’s World Test Championship final to follow next month against South Africa at Lord’s.

Fellow quick Josh Hazlewood is nursing a shoulder issue in Australia and a decision is yet to be made whether he will return to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

RCB are currently second in the standings with three games to play while Delhi sit a place outside of the play-offs in fifth.

Australia’s players are set to meet in the UK on 4 June to prepare for the defence of their world Test title.

The IPL play-offs begin on 29 May with the final on 3 June, meaning Hazlewood could play a full part in the IPL’s latter stages if passed fit.

Captain Pat Cummins and batter Travis Head, also in Australia’s Test squad, will return to India to compete the IPL season at Sunrisers Hyderabad before travelling to England. Sunrisers are already out of contention.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have not confirmed whether their Test players will remain available for the remainder of the IPL, although coach Shukri Conrad said the Proteas were “not budging” on wanting their players to return on 26 May.

Eight of South Africa’s Test squad are in the IPL – Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Lungi Ngidi, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch.

South Africa are scheduled to play a warm-up match against Zimbabwe at Arundel from 3 June.

The Test Championship final begins at Lord’s on 11 June.