Starc back to spearhead Cup tilt

Australia's hopes of mounting a successful World Cup defence were given a timely boost on Friday by the sight of pace ace Mitchell Starc bowling off a full run-up at Brisbane's Allan Border Field. 

Starc sustained a left pectoral injury while bowling on the final day of Australia's second-Test win over Sri Lanka at the start of February and has not played in the three months since, missing the world champions' impressive ODI series wins away to India and Pakistan. 

But at Australia's first World Cup training session, the left-armer looked fit and ready for action, taking part in fielding drills as well as bowling in the nets where, armed with the white ball, he repeatedly found edges of bats. 

"He's going to have a good bowl today," head coach Justin Langer forecast ahead of the afternoon session that was carried out in barmy temperatures under grey skies.  

"There's been some really positive feedback coming from New South Wales where he's been bowling. 

"He's in pristine condition, we've just got to make sure his pec's coming good. 

"He'll bowl off his long run today and as with all our bowlers we'll manage him through to make sure he's absolutely ready to go for the first game against Afghanistan."

Starc was player of the tournament at the 2015 World Cup, with his 22 wickets at the alarming strike-rate of 17.6 proving a major factor in Australia claiming a fifth World Cup crown. 

However, while all news concerning the 29-year-old was positive, there was less clarity around the fitness of Western Australia quick Jhye Richardson, who trained alone at AB Field, performing what looked to be specific rehab work on his right shoulder. 

The 22-year-old dislocated the joint in Sharjah during an ODI against Pakistan on March 24, and while scans cleared him of serious damage, he was not part of the bowling group in the nets today. 

"There's probably a bit more of a cloud over him, to be honest," Langer said. "But he played a lot of cricket leading up to his accident, and he's doing everything possible with his rehab – he's a little ripper. 

"We'll keep monitoring him and hopefully make it a little bit more clear at the start of next week or before we leave to go (to England)."

Joining the World Cup quicks in the AB Field nets were Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott, Michael Neser and Kane Richardson, all of whom will be in the UK as Australia A tourists during and after the World Cup. 

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

May 25: (warm-up) England v Australia, Southampton

May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE