Quote:Mitchell Starc will delay surgery on his troublesome ankle in a bid to play in both the two-match Test series against New Zealand in February, as well as the World T20 in March.

Starc bowled just nine overs during Australia's three-wicket victory over New Zealand in Adelaide after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot. While there are concerns his pre-existing problems with bone spurs in his ankle may have contributed to the fracture, Starc is keen to get back into the Australia side as soon as possible.

"The foot won't rule me out for rest of summer, so no point doubling up and missing extra time with surgery," Starc said. "Once I get home I will talk to the medical staff and map it out and see what it looks like. I will let the bone heal for now.

"I will be in the boot for three or four weeks and reassess then. There is no point putting a time stamp on it until the bone heals."

The ankle will inevitably require surgery but the recovery period is unknown and, at a time when Australia's depth of fast bowling stocks is likely to be tested, Starc is unwilling to take the risk of sitting out of the game for an extended period of time.