Australian T20 star Mitchell Starc picks up leg injury ahead of World Cup match

Australia has been dealt a cruel blow in the lead-up to the clash with Sri Lanka, with Mitchell Starc picking up a leg injury in training.

Mitchell Starc appears in doubt for Australia's second game of the T20 World Cup. Picture: Fox Sports/Getty

Australia’s chances of winning back-to-back T20 World Cup games has been dealt a blow after veteran quick Mitchell Starc picked up a leg injury at training on Tuesday.

Starc is in doubt for tonight’s World Cup clash against Sri Lanka (early Friday morning AEDT) after he copped a return blow to just above his right knee while completing his follow through bowling in the nets.

The affected area immediately broke out in a significant hematoma, but he is yet to be ruled out of the Sri Lanka clash and will be monitored by medical staff before play.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night and Starc did return to training on Wednesday night and batted and bowled.

While Starc could be replaced by Kane Richardson or Ashton Agar for the battle against Sri Lanka, the early signs would indicate the big left-arm strike weapon shouldn’t have any long-term issues for the Ashes or the rest of the World Cup.

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Starc is back at training after the injury scare. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

Picture: Getty Images

Mitchell Starc is one third of Australia’s ‘big three’ fast bowlers, along with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. Image: Aamir Qureshi / AFP

Starc took two wickets in the win over South Africa and is a vital component of Australia’s World Cup plans as the premier white ball quick in the world.

If coach Justin Langer continues to structure the Aussie attack around pace, Starc could be subbed out for Richardson.

If not, spinner Agar, who has taken the most wickets of any Australian T20I bowler in the last two years, would likely come into the side.

Langer said on Sunday it was “tough” to exclude Richardson and Agar from the 11 that defeated South Africa in Abu Dhabi on Saturday evening (AEDT).

Mitchell Starc grimaces after his injury scare. Image: Fox Sports

Before the practice matches for the T20 World Cup, Starc hadn’t played a game of cricket in more than two months, having last lined up for Australia in the disappointing tour of Bangladesh in August.

In the interim, he joined his wife, star wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy, and the Australian women’s squad for the recent series against India.

“For me, I’ve spent a fair bit of time with the Australian women’s team and Alyssa. That was a good period of mental and physical preparation for me,” he told reporters earlier this month.

Originally published as Australian T20 star Mitchell Starc picks up leg injury ahead of World Cup match