Cricket news: Mitchell Starc says Aussie World Cup stars stayed at ground until they were ‘kicked out’ as he opens up on his injury

Mitchell Starc didn’t get a call back from his wife for some time after her World Cup win — and the celebrations are set to continue. Plus, he gives an update on his injury.

It took some time for Alyssa Healy to answer the phone on Sunday night in South Africa, but Mitchell Starc persisted patiently from his hotel room, and on Monday expressed the pride he felt in his wife and her team’s achievements before training in Indore.

Having left behind acrid air and chaos of Delhi, what is left of the squad is breathing deeply and considering the challenges ahead after the disappointment of the first two Tests.

At least one Australian side is having a better time of it and Starc couldn’t be more proud of their T20 World Cup win in Cape Town.

“Really special for the girls,” he said. “They stayed at the ground until they were kicked out which was well deserved, a fantastic result.

“The second three-peat for the Aussie girls in T20 cricket in their 13th World Cup across both white ball formats.

“An incredible team, an incredible achievement for that group, but for also some of the girls who have been there for a fair while now.

Alyssa Healy sprays coach Shelley Nitschke with champagne after the win. Picture: Marco Longari/AFP

“They were celebrating and enjoying the moment (when he called). I think they get the chance again today in Africa before the majority of them head over here. I’m sure they’ll enjoy today given the tournament they’ve had and the success they’ve had over the last three T20 World Cups for that group. They’re all pretty chuffed and acknowledged what a special moment it is.”

Healy is part of a group that flies straight to India for the first ever women’s IPL — an event that is expected to revolutionise the female game.

The Australians trained in Indore on Monday morning. The city is the biggest in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, one renowned for its bright, clean streets and educational facilities and once the seat of the Holkar dynasty, the town was established by Ahilyabai Holkar, the celebrated Queen of the Maratha empire.

Starc is still wearing a splint on the finger that kept him out of the tour until this point — although he was keen to play the second match.

“I’m always right to go, it’s a Test match, it’s good enough,” he said. “There’s going to be a level of discomfort for a little while, I don’t think it is going to be 100% for a little while, but the ball is coming out quite nicely and I feel like I’m pretty much at full tilt.

“It wouldn’t be the first Test match I’ve played in some sort of discomfort. If I only played when I was at 100% I would have only played five or 10 Tests. I’m happy with where it’s at and I’ve built up enough of a pain threshold to deal with that stuff over the last 10 or 12 years.”

Mitchell Starc is raring to go. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Scott Boland bowls at training. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“There’s not the same amount of movement in it. It’s more the discomfort of the joint being restricted, having been in a splint for six weeks and still having to be in a splint for another couple of weeks yet.

“That’s probably the only part – dealing with the discomfort of it, getting the mobility back into it. That’ll come over the next couple of weeks and it’s progressed again, it’s progression each day I bowl. It’s not a concern for me, the comfort levels – it’s doing what I need it to do to be available to play.”

Starc is certain to play given Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are back in Australia, but also because his left arm generates reverse wing and his big feet create rough for Nathan Lyon outside the right hand batsmen’s for stump.

“We do see spinning playing a huge part, having said the quicks still do have a part to play with the new ball,” he said.

“If it does reverse, being able to bowl that skiddy ball and bringing the stumps into play.

“There’s certainly an important role to play for the seam bowlers as we’ve seen with the Indian guys and Pat has been attacking at times as well with the ball. I haven’t been out to have a look (at the pitch) yet. No doubt spin will play another part as well this week. If myself or some of the other seamers get a chance out here, we’ll have to play an important role with the spinners to take 20 wickets.”

The pitch, as expected, has a covering of grass in the middle and bare patches for spinners at either end.

How the pitch looks in Indore. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Starc played in a bio security bubble against India in the last Border Gavaskar Trophy with his father seriously ill in Sydney.

Cold eyed culture war warriors and hairy chested ‘heroes’ question the Australian captain’s decision, but the bowler says the whole team understands what Cummins, who is by the side of his terminally ill mother, is going through and has gone through.

“Care is a big factor in this group and certainly in the case of Pat, he’s exactly where he needs to be right now,” he said.

“Having been through a similar situation recently, it’s a hard place to be trying to get your head around playing international cricket and for him to captain at the same time when you mind might be back home or with your family.

“We are sons, partners, fathers first, people first, and cricketers second. He has the complete support of the group. It’s been tough to see him go through it from afar so nice for him to get the opportunity for him to go home and be around family to support the rest of his family and go through that not being overseas at the same time.”

Handscomb talks up exciting Aussie ‘ins’ for third Test

Peter Handscomb admits that the Australian side has suffered big losses to personnel – on top of some sobering ones on the field – but is hopeful the remaining members of the squad can turn things around in the third Test against India.

Pat Cummins and David Warner are both back in Sydney and will not be available for the match in Indore. The Test was originally going to be held in Dharamsala but was moved at the last minute because the outfield had – bizarrely – been dug up.

Cummins has returned to be with his terminally ill mother while Warner has a broken arm.

Josh Hazlewood has also returned home, having failed to recover from injury, but Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green are both finally fit and available for selection.

“It’s going to be a big loss, not having those two,” Handscomb said of the returned pair.

“But also Mitch Starc is coming back from injury, ‘Greeny’ is coming back from injury, so we’ve got a couple of big ins potentially, and that’s the exciting part as well.”

Handscomb sympathised with Cummins’ plight.

“It’s pretty understandable that Pat’s gone home and it’s always going to be family first – that’s a good mentality around this group,” he said in Delhi on Sunday.

“There’s a lot of empathy going towards Pat, and the boys have been sending messages and wishing him and his family lots of love and support.”

Peter Handscomb warms up during an Australian training session. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Victorian batsman, who has looked one of the more settled among a startled top order, praised Cummins’ ability to play with the family drama unfolding at home.

“To be able to sort of put that to one side while he (Cummins) is out captaining his country and trying to win Test matches is a pretty incredible effort,” Handscomb said.

“I think that speaks volumes about his character and why he’s been such an incredible captain for us.

“What he’s been doing is pretty special.

“But it’s good that he’s home with his family and having that time.”

Handscomb revealed to the Cricket Australia Unplayable podcast how pleased he was with his 72 in the second Test – his highest Test score in six years.

His wife Sarah, mother-in-law Colleen and baby son Jack were in the stands for the innings.

The Victorian captain had been forced to cut short his Australia A tour of Sri Lanka last year when Sarah’s waters broke early. Jack was born underweight and had to be fed through a tube for the first months of his life.

“Compared to other prem(ature) babies in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), he was one of the lucky ones who was a bit bigger, to breathe on his own after 36 hours, and then it was just about getting him fat and feeding him and stuff like that,” Handscomb said.

“We were lucky in that sense. But it was also tough, leaving him for the first time – having a child and then actually having to go home and try to get some sleep to then come back and sit with him for hours and not being able to do much with him.

“It was a tough month.

“But we’re seeing incredible rewards now and being able to bring him on tour, it’s very, very special, and definitely put cricket in perspective, that’s for sure.”

It would take an extraordinary effort for Australia to turn around the series given the Aussies have won just one Test in India since 2004.

Originally published as Cricket news: Mitchell Starc says Aussie World Cup stars stayed at ground until they were ‘kicked out’ as he opens up on his injury