LEFT-ARM fast bowler Mitchell Starc may not be fit in time for selection for next year's World Cup

Starc, 20, stole the headlines in Australia's one-day international against Sri Lanka at the Gabba in November when he took 4-27 on debut. However, he broke down in a Sheffield Shield match a few days later with a side strain.

The New South Wales paceman said that despite earning a place in the preliminary 30-man World Cup squad, he might not get to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for the tournament, to be played between February 19 and April 2.

"It's great to be in the 30-man squad, but I guess time's the issue here," Starc said yesterday.

"I'm not too worried about the World Cup at the moment. I'm only 20. If I do get to play, awesome, but if not I guess I'll work on it for four years' time."

Starc said he was unlikely to return for NSW in its Twenty20 Big Bash opener against South Australia on January 4, instead planning a more sedate comeback at club level in Sydney.

"I think I'm pushing it to be back for the first Big Bash game," he said.

"It'll be hard to crack the side with the likes of Brett Lee and Dougie Bollinger there, but I guess my first aim is to play grade cricket on January 8 and then be in that PM's XI game on January 10."

Starc already has been named in the PM's XI to play England in a limited overs game in Canberra, but said he wasn't sure whether that would lead to more international honours this summer.

"Selection's out of my hands," he said.

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