Both Australians, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc, concluded their illustrious careers by emerging as the costliest purchases in an Indian Premier League auction. England’s Harry Brook and Chris Woakes also secured substantial paychecks.

In a tense bidding showdown, Cummins was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for 20.5 crore rupees (approximately £1.9 million), setting a new record for the highest price in an IPL auction. Soon after, Starc surpassed this figure as Kolkata Knight Riders invested 24.75 crore rupees (about £2.34 million), establishing yet another record.

Cummins captained Australia in the World Test Championship final and the World Cup, also retaining the Ashes on English soil. Starc played a pivotal role in these events, regarded as a fearsome death bowler in white-ball cricket. He hadn’t participated in the IPL since 2015, prioritizing international commitments.

A year earlier, England’s Sam Curran secured the highest bid after their T20 World Cup victory, signing with Punjab Kings for 18.5 crore (£1.85 million). Ben Stokes and Harry Brook also received substantial deals.

However, this time around, the market for English players was slightly slower, with Adil Rashid and Phil Salt initially going unsold. Brook, released after one season by Sunrisers Hyderabad, was purchased by Delhi Capitals for 4 crore (approx. £400,000), while Woakes joined Punjab Kings for 4.2 crore (approx. £420,000). Other English players like Curran, Jonny Bairstow, and Liam Livingstone also found spots in Punjab Kings.

Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Joe Root opted out of this year’s tournament. After a disappointing performance in the World Cup, there’s likely to be a reduced number of English players at the IPL. Additionally, the IPL’s expected schedule from March 22 to late May may impact the availability of England players as they have a home T20 series against Pakistan during that time.

In response to the Netherlands�challenge, Australia managed to post a competitive total of 166-7 in a rain-affected contest that was reduced to 23 overs per side due to weather delays. It’s important to note that this warm-up match does not hold official ODI status.

Starc, who’s been contending with both a shoulder issue and the aforementioned “groin soreness,” is resolute about making a substantial impact upon his return to the cricket field. At 33 years of age, he has recently provided encouraging updates on his recuperation, revealing that his shoulder has been responding well to treatment and that his groin injury has notably improved, courtesy of an extended period of rest and dedicated rehabilitation.

He expounded” There were a few things going on during the Ashes, which we found out post-Ashes. There was a remote going on in the (groin) regionâ€?that conspicuously lengthened the installation time. The shoulder has been good since the Ashes; it’s just ascertaining that I was ready to go for the World Cup and not compromising that,” shared the cricketer born in Baulkham Hills.

Starc didn’t shy away from offering his perspective on the team’s recent performances, recognizing their impressive form while pinpointing the difficulties they encountered when it came to finishing matches, particularly evident in their battles against South Africa. Despite these challenges, he exuded optimism when discussing Australia’s upcoming fixtures against India and their shared determination to clinch victories, all with the goal of building crucial momentum as they prepare for the ODI World Cup.

He commented, “I’ve had my fair share of moments on the sidelines during my career, and it’s never enjoyable to watch when I’m eager to make a meaningful contribution. The team has been displaying some excellent cricket, and it was indeed disappointing not to secure the series in South Africa”. Now, it’s all eyes on the World Cup and getting used to conditions here in India. Hopefully, we canâ€?take some momentum into the World Cup,” concluding with his trademark optimism.

With the ODI World Cup drawing nearer, the hope remains that Starc will regain full fitness and be a formidable presence on the cricket field. In spite of these obstacles, Starc remains a central figure for the Australian national team, and this significance is amplified as the ODI World Cup 2023 approaches, set to commence on October 5 in India. His potential return from these injuries is eagerly anticipated, as his pace and skills are seen as invaluable assets that can significantly impact Australia’s performance in the tournament.

Looking ahead, Starc remains hopeful about his imminent return, targeting the third ODI in Rajkot on September 27 as a comeback opportunity. He views this return as a chance to bolster Australia’s momentum and preparations for the forthcoming 50-over cricket spectacle, the CWC 2023.

“That’s obviously the priority. Hopefully, I get a rollout in game three, and if not, we’ve got those two warm-up games (in Thiruvananthapuram on September 30 and Hyderabad on October 3),” Starc conveyed, emphasizing his determination to make a strong comeback.

In the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Australia has been asked to bowl first by England after making the decision to exclude Mitchell Starc from the playing XI. Captain Pat Cummins confirmed that Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood would both be part of the lineup, leaving Starc as the unfortunate omission.

“It’s a tough call, especially on Mitchy,” said Cummins at the toss on Friday. “I thought he was very impressive last week in the World Test Championship final, but we have a squad mentality. It’s a good problem to have someone like Josh Hazlewood coming in.”

Cummins also mentioned that if he had won the toss, he would have chosen to bat.

England captain Ben Stokes’ decision to bat first is notable as it is the first time he has made such a call in a home Test match, with the team typically preferring to chase in the fourth innings. However, the Edgbaston pitch appears flat, and the weather is clear in Birmingham.

“It looks like a really good wicket, a good toss to win, but now we have to go out and put some runs on the board,” said Stokes.

Boland, who had not been previously selected in a full-strength Australian attack, has impressed with a remarkable start to his career, taking 33 wickets at an average of 14.57. Hazlewood, who has faced injuries in recent years, brings control and a fresh presence to the team.

Starc, despite his wicket-taking abilities, has been left out for the first time since the 2019 Ashes when fit. Australia is expected to rotate their pace bowlers throughout the English summer, with Cummins keen to lead in all five Tests.

England had already announced their lineup earlier in the week, featuring veterans Stuart Broad and James Anderson, while Mark Wood was overlooked.

Stokes expressed excitement for the much-anticipated series to finally commence, saying, “It’s an amazing feeling. After all the hype surrounding this series for the last six months, it’s obviously a very special moment for me and the rest of the guys.”

Australia Squad: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

England Squad: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

Australia’s star pacer Mitchell Starc has withdrawn his name from Australia’s popular domestic T20 league BigBash, preferring to such a busy schedule of the national team.

He is losing $10 million or Rs 94 crore, but the Aussie pacer is adamant about his decision. Mitchell Starc has been absent from the Big Bash for eight long years. He last played for the Sydney Sixers in the 2014-15 season. His remuneration for the service was close to $10 million. He also withdrew from that deal.

In a recent interview with AFP in Sri Lanka about his decision not to play in the BigBash, Starc said, “I enjoyed it whenever I played in the BigBash. But my approach toward franchise cricket hasn’t changed in the last seven years. Be it the IPL or the BigBash, I have always preferred Australia’s schedule over everything. I wanted to keep myself fit to perform well with all my abilities. That’s why I put franchise cricket in the back row. The schedule for the next 18 months is ridiculous. “I will always put Australian cricket in front of me, followed by franchise cricket. I also love spending time at home and spending time with my wife. â€?/div>