Fast bowler Mitchell Starc is set to join the Australian squad ahead of the Day-Night Test against India, starting December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. The speedster took some time out of the game and opted out of the last two T20Is due to an illness in the family.

He also missed the final ODI in Canberra after he sustained an injury. Cricket Australia, in a statement, on Sunday, December 13, stated that Starc confirmed about joining the national team going into the much-awaited pink-ball Test.

“Starc has advised Australian team management he is ready to re-enter the hub in Adelaide and will fly from Sydney on Monday with fellow Test squad members in the Australia A team,” the statement mentioned.

Hazlewood lauds Mitchell Starc

Ahead of the contest, Josh Hazlewood, Starc’s pace-bowling partner, was happy to have the pacer back in the scheme of things. Josh reckons that Starc is professional enough and should be able to get himself up and running for the Adelaide Test.

“It’s obviously great news for us to have Starcy come in tomorrow. He’s a huge part of our team and a huge part of our attack. Everyone knows his numbers with the pink ball are pretty special so we welcome him with open arms,” Hazlewood told.

“If we’ve learned anything from this series it’s that nothing goes to plan. We’re always struggling with the schedules and travel and different things. I’m sure this hiccup will be no different for Starcy. He’s a professional and he would have been doing everything he could over the last week and obviously, once he comes into camp he’ll jump straight in and be ready to go,” he stated.

Starc didn’t have the best of outings in the two ODIs he played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He only picked up one wicket and leaked over 80 runs in the second match. But to his relief, the Aussies ended up winning both the matches.

In the first T20I in Canberra, he picked up a couple of wickets, conceding 34 runs in his four overs. In the upcoming Test series, Starc is expected to pair up with Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and ruffle a few feathers.