Cricket: Doubts over Starc for NZ series

Mitchell Starc could miss Australia's tour of New Zealand. Photo / Getty

Rod Marsh doubts Australia's injured spearhead Mitchell Starc will be back for the two-Test series starting in New Zealand on February 12.

Starc will miss the upcoming three-Test series against the West Indies due to a stress fracture in his right foot.

Bone spurs in Starc's right ankle have been managed throughout the year and the left-armer wants to keep delaying surgery.

However, at some point he will need to go under the knife to fix the issue.

"If it's two different lots of surgery, we might not see much of Mitchell for a little while," chairman of selectors Marsh cautioned.

Australia start a two-Test series in New Zealand on February 12, with the Twenty20 World Cup to follow in March.

Bowling coach Craig McDermott was upbeat on Sunday that Starc could be fit in time for the trip across the Tasman.

Marsh gave a significantly different timeframe on Tuesday.

"We'd love to have Mitchell Starc playing against New Zealand in the Test series. I don't think that will happen," Marsh said.

"In an ideal world we'd like to have him playing in the (T20) World Cup. It may happen."

Starc spoke to reporters on Monday and seemed genuinely unsure when he would be fit enough to bowl.

The left-armer will spend the next three or four weeks in a moonboot before being reassessed by team medical staff.

"You've got to think of the kid's health. The medical people always keep that in mind," Marsh said.

"He'll be back when he's back. In the meantime we've got to get on with it."

Marsh reiterated his mantra that selectors needed to call on a 10-man pace battery.

"Because they just don't get through a lot of Test matches in a row," he said.

Australia's pace depth will be tested by Starc's injury, which follows Mitchell Johnson's retirement and another serious back injury for Pat Cummins.

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-AAP