Cricket Australia denied having anything to do with Mitchell Starc being thrown out of Britain on Wednesday, as the Test fast bowler attempted to play down the visa problems that saw him deported.
The left-armer was due to leave London Tuesday evening with his English side Yorkshire, coached by former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, blaming either Cricket Australia or Starc’s agent for problems with his paperwork.
The 22-year-old arrived at Heathrow Airport at the weekend and was initially cleared to remain, but will not now make his Yorkshire debut against Gloucestershire on Wednesday.
Cricket Australia said the issue had nothing to do with them.
“Mitchell is on annual leave and decided to organise a short-term contract with Yorkshire. It has absolutely nothing to do with us,” a spokesman told AFP.
“We have sent plenty of people to England and know all the requirements. Saying that, we have made it clear that if Mitchell needs our help, we are happy to do that.”
While Cricket Australia have been blamed by some, Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves has also fingered Starc’s agent for the “fiasco”, according to the Guardian newspaper.
Starc was keen to play down the embarrassment as he prepared to fly out of Britain.
“Well round the world here we go… Off to aus now,” he tweeted, apparently from Heathrow.
“Just to be clear guys, not cricket aus or Yorks fault. No one to blame, was some miscommunication from Australia.
“Common sense isnt so common these days!” he added.
Starc was due to begin an initial five-week deal to help offset the controversial departure of seamer Ajmal Shahzad, who joined county champions Lancashire, Yorkshire’s arch cross-border rivals, on loan until the end of the season on Tuesday after being controversially released by Headingley officials last week.
The departure of the 26-year-old Shahzad, who has played one Test and 11 one-day internationals for England, was a shock as he had taken eight wickets in three first-class matches at an average of 26.25 for Yorkshire this season.
But Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves said Shahzad had to go after refusing to follow Gillespie’s instructions.
“(Shahzad) wanted to have the opportunity to be his own man, bang it in when he wants to bang it in and bowl bouncers when he wants to bowl bouncers,” Graves said.
“The captain, the coach and everybody else didn’t want that situation, especially at this time of year where we’ve got seaming wickets and all the rest of it – it’s disciplined bowling that counts.”
Gillespie said it was a pity Starc would miss the Gloucestershire clash, but said he would be back, hopefully in time to face Hampshire next week.
