Injury robs unfortunate Starc of $ 1.8m IPL payday

MITCHELL Starc has suffered a costly leg injury on the eve of the Indian Premier League, with Australia’s spearhead to miss out on a $ 1.8 million contract.

Starc was ruled out of Australia’s fourth Test against South Africa last night because of tibial bone stress, which will prevent him taking part in India’s lucrative Twenty20 tournament starting next week.

South Africa reached 1- 88 at lunch overnight, with Aiden Markram ( 55 no) and Hashim Amla ( 13 no) at the crease.

Starc, who will return home for further assessment after the Test in Johannesburg, could be set for another long stint on the sidelines depending on how serious the right- leg injury is. It’s common for the complaint to initially present as calf pain.

Starc was in doubt for the third Test because of a sore calf, having been clearly bothered by the same issue during the final innings of the second Test.

Starc bowled briefly in the nets on Thursday but wasn’t able to prove his fitness.

It’s been a tough week for the 28- year- old, who felt let down by the actions of former leaders Steve Smith and David Warner in the cheating scandal.

Starc is regarded as one of the best white- ball bowlers in the world but has skipped the previous two IPL tournaments in a bid to manage his workload. The international calendar has an usually long break this year, which prompted him to enter the 2018 IPL auction. Kolkata Knight Riders won the bidding frenzy.

The cashed- up T20 tournament falls in players’ leave period, providing a nearconstant source of frustration for Cricket Australia.

Starc missed last year’s Boxing Day Test because of a bruised heel and he was also bothered by a stress fracture in his landing foot during 2017.