Starc grounded by knee niggle

Australia’s World Cup player of the tournament Mitchell Starc will miss the start of the Indian Premier League with a minor knee injury.

Starc captured 22 wickets in the World Cup at an astonishing average of 10.18, but a left knee niggle will keep the lethal left-armer grounded for two-three weeks in Australia.

Quick Single: World No.1 Starc is king of the Cup

"Mitchell had some knee soreness during the latter stages of the World Cup," Bupa Support Staff physio Alex Kountouris said today.

"He will have a short period off to rest and recover, before being reassessed by CA medical staff.

"We estimate his recovery time will be between two-three weeks."

The injury layoff will make the 24-year-old unavailable for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening stages of the IPL.

Sold to RCB for AU$889,000 last year, Starc will join international superstars Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli in red, gold and blue.

Starc’s incredible performance in Australia’s World Cup triumph saw him assume the No.1 ranked one-day international bowler mantle for the first time in his career. 

Watch: Starc named player of the tournament

Starc was also awarded a lucrative Cricket Australia contract yesterday and named in the Test tours to the West Indies and the United Kingdom for the Ashes.

The Australians competing in the IPL are set to endure a log-jammed schedule following the conclusion of the World Cup.

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The final of the IPL will be held on May 24, just five days before Australia’s first and only tour match in the lead up to the first Test against the West Indies on June 5 in Dominica.

Should the second Test in Jamaica go the distance, the Test squad will have only eight days to acclimatise to English conditions before their first tour match against Kent takes place in Canterbury on 25 July.

Starc was on the last Ashes tour to England in 2013, playing in three Tests without recording consecutive appearances.

But allrounder Shane Watson says Starc’s epic performance in the World Cup is close to transitioning to red ball cricket.

"It's incredible to see how well he has bowled in this tournament against the best batsmen in the world," said Watson.

"It will be incredible to see him also do that in Test cricket, because that's very close.

"His confidence changed and he made a couple of adjustments in that Sydney Test match and he bowled beautifully."