Tape delay: Why stitched-up Starc can't play

Mitchell Starc bowled at close to full tilt in the middle of Pallekele Stadium on Monday afternoon but will not be permitted to do so today when Australia's first one-day international against Sri Lanka gets underway.

Four injuries in the space of a week have left the Aussies desperately short of fast bowlers, making the relegation of one of the best 50-over bowlers of all-time to net-bowler status slightly curious given how he charged in on match eve.

The 32-year-old sliced open the index finger on his left bowling hand in his opening over of the T20 series, cutting it on a spike in his shoe in his follow through.

Six stiches are in his finger but he was able to bowl with three layers of strapping tape at training in in Kandy, challenging Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in the nets before having a trundle out on the ground.

Under the Laws, "protection for the hand or fingers may be worn only with the consent of the umpires" and it is not uncommon for fielders to be seen with tape and strapping on hands, wrists and fingers.

Image Id: 3E026BD30CEA4D26B97BF828ED0C5BCB Image Caption: Starc bowled at full tilt with tape on his injured index finger on Monday // cricket.com.au

However, under guidance notes for match officials issued by the International Cricket Council, umpires take a much sterner view for bowlers and tape on the fingers of the bowling hand is effectively outlawed.

The exception is for an injury during the same match, such as Starc suffered during the first T20, and the left-armer was allowed to keep bowling after the injury last Tuesday, showing few signs of being affected as he claimed 3-26 and bowled out his complement of four overs.

Taped fingers are considered by many bowlers to be a hindrance, rather than an advantage, especially for quicks.

Indeed, Starc struggled to grip the new ball seam-up when he bowled on the centre wicket on Monday, swapping the glossy Kookaburra for an older one with a flatter seam after a few balls.

Whether the Aussies would want the paceman, a devastating swing bowler with the white ball who is five victims away from becoming the fastest man to 200 ODI wickets, to only bowl cross-seam or to just be used with the older ball would be a separate selection debate.

It is a moot point for now, though the fact he troubled two of the world's best batters despite his injury would only have added to his case.

On the practice wickets, Starc had Labuschagne edging behind while he induced Smith to offer a caught-and-bowled chance.

Starc's absence has derailed what were understood to be Australia's initial plans of playing the big three quicks – Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins – through most of the early part of the five-game ODI series before putting them on ice to keep them fresh for the upcoming Tests.

As it stood when they finalised their XI on Monday, the tourists only had only three fit specialist pacemen to pick from in Cummins, Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson.

Ashes hero Scott Boland was being rushed from Hambantota on the south coast where he had been with the Australia A squad that starts a four-day tour match today, to be on standby.

Injured quicks Kane Richardson (hamstring tendon) and Sean Abbott (broken finger) have both already flown home, with the former having played through the third T20 on Sunday with a serious tear, while allrounders Mitch Marsh (calf) and Cameron Green (managed) are also unable to bowl for the start of the ODIs.

"It is certainly testing," said captain Aaron Finch, who added that Starc and Marsh were likely to be available from the third ODI onwards.

"Getting back to Colombo (for the final three ODIs) the wickets will probably be a little drier and we'll look to play either an extra spinner or potentially an extra allrounder to be able to get through the 50 overs.

"It's not ideal but that's a part of touring life in this day and age."

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

June 7: Australia won first T20 by 10 wickets

June 8: Australia won second T20 by three wickets

June 11: Sri Lanka won third T20 by four wickets

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Niroshan Dickwella, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 14: First ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST

June 16: Second ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST

June 19: Third ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

All Sri Lanka v Australia international fixtures will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Australia A fixtures

Australia A squad: Scott Boland, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee

Sri Lanka A one-day squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Udara, Lasith Croospulle, Oshada Fernando, Pabasara Waduge, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Janitha Liyanage, Sahan Arachchi, Pulina Tharanga, Dunith Wellalage, Dananjaya Lakshan, Shiran Fernando (will not play due to injury), Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Nishan Madushka, Ashen Daniel,Nisala Tharaka

June 8: Australia A won by seven wickets

June 10: Sri Lanka A won by four wickets

June 14-17: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota

June 21-24: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota