Starc eyes subcontinent return

Injured quick Mitchell Starc has his sights set on Australia’s winter tour of Sri Lanka as he continues his recovery from long-term injury.

Starc is currently in rehabilitation at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane after foot and ankle problems curtailed his summer.

The left-armer last played for Australia in the historic Day-Night Test last November against New Zealand before having to leave the field after stress fractures in his landing foot flared up.

But the 26-year-old is confident with the progress he is making in his rehab and says his goal is to be fit and ready for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in July.

"(Progress) is slow but I'm on track. It's nice to be running again, even though it’s slow - it’s more of a fast walk," Starc told cricket.com.au.

"It’s nice to be doing things in the gym, it's a silver lining, and it's nice to be able to have a pre-season before I start playing again."

Starc was ruled out of the ICC World T20 in India at the start of the year and also looks likely to miss the ODI tri-series in the West Indies in June.

"Hopefully I’m not too far away, obviously the big one is the Test tour of Sri Lanka - that's first and foremost, making sure I’m 100 per cent ready to go for that one," he said.

"If I’m ready for the West Indies tri-series beforehand then that is a bonus, but the Test matches are up there for me to be right and available for."

Starc's fitness could pose a selection dilemma for the coaching staff with tearaway quick Pat Cummins likely to be ready for the tours of the West Indies and Sri Lanka alongside James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird and Peter Siddle.

Starc also ruled out a trip to India to watch the men and women as part of the ICC World T20 as it may impact his rehab schedule.

"Hopefully I’ll start bowling at the back-end of March and they'll have a close eye on me with that sort of stuff so it’ll be up to them to give me the green light or not," he said.

The left-arm quick was joined by injured allrounder James Faulkner to speak to the players of the 15 and Under National Championships in Brisbane, a tournament Faulkner took part in and Starc lauded as a perfect entry to the pathway.

"You can get earmarked as a talented kid now as a 12-year-old," Starc said.

"It’s a great time for the young kids and with a few performances you can find yourself in the system sooner rather than later."

The 15 and Under Championships is the first tournament of the Cricket Australia Pathway and is currently being played in Brisbane. Follow the action at www.nationalchamps.com.au.