Australia left-arm quick Mitchell Starc has been deported from Britain, with visa problems preventing him from making his debut for English county Yorkshire on Wednesday. Yorkshire, coached by former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, are blaming Cricket Australia officials for problems with Starc’s paperwork.
The 22-year-old Starc, who arrived at Heathrow Airport last weekend and was initially cleared to remain, will not now make his Yorkshire debut in their County Championship Second Division match against Gloucestershire at Bristol on Wednesday. But the bowler himself was confident of being able to return to England in time for next week’s match against Yorkshire.
Australia denies any part in Starc ‘fiasco’
Cricket Australia Wednesday denied having anything to do with Mitchell Starc being thrown out of Britain, as the 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.