One of the best fast bowlers of the current generation Mitchell Starc was unlucky to miss out on the World T20 and the Indian Premier League after picking up an injury late last year.
However, Australia captain Steve Smith revealed earlier today that the star bowler is back fit again and is better than ever.
Starc, who was unplayable in the day-night test against New Zealand at Adelaide, picked up a stress fracture during the same game. Ever since, Starc, has not played international cricket and also had a surgery done on his troublesome ankle.
But he is now back to full fitness and the skipper felt that he was back to his best ahead of the tri-series in the Caribbean next month.
“It’s nice to have Mitchell Starc back bowling the way he is,” Smith said.
“He’s looking fresh and bowling at good pace. Hopefully, some of the South African and West Indies batsmen are a little bit scared at the moment,” he added.
He went on to say that it was exciting for the whole team to have him back in the squad and that he hoped that the left-arm quickie is back amongst the wickets straight away.
“It’s exciting to have him back and hopefully he can have some success straight away, or pick up where he left off,” he said.
Starc was not the only player suffering an injury in recent times in the Australia squad.
The likes of Glen Maxwell, Steve Smith himself, Shaun Marsh and Mitchell March were all sent back home from the Indian Premier League through various injuries and are training at the National Cricket centre in Brisbane.
Smith also revealed that Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh are closing in on full fitness.
He revealed, “Maxy’s had a chance to recover and I think he’ll be fine for the first game.”
“Mitch Marsh has been getting through his loads up here this week, he’s been bowling well and batting well,” he added,
He also spoke about his own wrist injury that sent him back to Australia from the IPL. He explained that moving away from cricket after an over-load at the start of the year has helped him in more ways than one.
“It’s coming along good, it was nice to rest it for a couple of weeks and not pick up a bat or catch any balls. It’s done it the world of good,” he said.
He also spoke about the day-night test match that Pakistan are supposed to play Australia at the Brisbane but Smith was not too optimistic.
“It could be very difficult for the batters, particularly if there’s grass that’s got to be left on the wicket. I think we still need plenty of development with the ball to make sure we don’t have to prepare a wicket that suits the ball, with plenty of grass on it,” he concluded.