Injured Starc not in rush to play Sri Lanka ODIs

Australia's pace spearhead hoped to play in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, but is not ready to risk his finger injury in order to ready for the two-match Test series later in the month.

Starc sliced open his left index finger on follow through while bowling in the first T20I which needed six stitches. The stitches were removed on Thursday, but the left-armer said that it will be two more days to take a call whether he will play in the third ODI on Sunday.

"I'm still holding onto hope that I will. There's still a fair bit of glue still in the wound. That will start to dissolve a bit more in the next couple of days. Once we get to Colombo we'll have a look at it again and see where it's at. I'm still training. It's just a matter of where the wound is at, and obviously with one eye on the Test series as well and not compromising that," Starc said on Friday.

Australia called in Kane Richardson as a replacement for Starc, but a hamstring injury in the third T20I ruled Richardson for the five-match ODI series. The visitors were further blighted by injuries to Mitchell Marsh (Groin Strain), Sean Abott (Finger), Marcus Stoinis (Side Strain) and Ashton Agar (Side Strain).

Starc revealed that he has started training but is not playing yet due to the ICC rules.

"I feel really good with the ball in hand. I've had to bowl at training with the tape on, and it's purely that I can't do that in the fixture due to the ICC rules which is why I'm not playing," Starc said. "We're just making sure we're not compromising the Test series."

Starc allayed concerns over the fitness of Steve Smith who seemed to have pulled a muscle while running between the wickets in the second ODI on Thursday.

"I don't know how sore he is or how much of a niggle he might be. After he got the strapping he played a pretty nice drive through mid-wicket, so I'm sure he'll be fine to play the next game," Starc said.