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Injured Starc to miss India tour: reports

Reports suggest quick will miss tour of India, with selectors set to name their ODI and T20 squad on Thursday

Mitchell Starc is set to miss Australia’s upcoming limited-overs series against India due to injury, according to reports.

Australia’s touring party for the two-match T20I and five-match ODI series against India is expected to be named on Thursday ahead of the squad’s departure for the subcontinent later this month.

Starc was named man of the match for collecting 10 wickets in the second Domain Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra, but News Corp reports the fast bowler is suffering from a soft tissue injury in his upper body, which will sideline him for the India series and place him in doubt for the ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE that will follow.

Starc’s absence would be a hit to Australia’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup in the United Kingdom.

Hazlewood is also expected to miss the ODI tours as he recovers from a back injury picked up in the Domain Test series against India.

But there was better news for fellow injured Australian Steve Smith on Wednesday as his manager dismissed reports the former captain could skip the 50-over showpiece tournament and return to cricket through the Australia A tour of England that runs concurrent to the World Cup.

Smith had surgery on his elbow last month and the first step of his recovery required him to spend six weeks with his right arm in a brace.

Smith's manager, Warren Craig of Turning Point Management, said the former captain remained in the brace after his elbow surgery that had "gone very well".

"Until the brace comes off we don't know for sure but all current opinion is that he'll then have about three and a half weeks (before being ready to play)," Craig told cricket.com.au.

"The intent is that he will play in the IPL and then the World Cup and then the Ashes."

Starc finds form with 10-wicket haul

Smith and David Warner will become eligible for international selection again on March 29 after serving their year-long bans, and that is expected to coincide with the final two matches of a five-match ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE.

This year's Indian Premier League, the 12th season of the lucrative T20 tournament, also beings on March 29.

A Cricket Australia spokesperson said: "Return-to-play timeframes will be clearer once the brace has been removed near the end of February. We are working with Steve to ensure he is ready to return to play as soon as practical."

It's understood Smith will embark on a rehab program to strengthen the arm before returning to the nets and building up to match readiness.

Australia have lost their past six bilateral ODI series, last tasting success in January 2017 when they beat Pakistan on home soil. They last won a series abroad in mid-2016 when they beat Sri Lanka.

Qantas tour of India

First T20: February 24, Bengaluru

Second T20: February 27, Visakhapatnam

First ODI: March 2, Hyderabad

Second ODI: March 5, Nagpur

Third ODI: March 8, Ranchi

Fourth ODI: March 10, Mohali

Fifth ODI: March 13, Delhi