Mitchell Starc.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Australia pacer Mitchell Starc skipped the training session ahead of the fifth Test against India at Sydney Cricket Ground. He bowled with a back injury in the fourth Test at Melbourne Cricket Board but after the game, the ace pacer revealed to be fit and confirmed his availability for the final Test against India. However, there are doubts regarding that, especially after he missed the training.
As per reports, Starc has general soreness that is expected to get better with more long spells. That can also end up bothering the 34-year-old. In that case, Australia will be one pacer down, similar to what happened at Gabba when Josh Hazlewood was ruled out with a calf injury. In that case, there’s a possibility of the team playing Sean Abbott ahead of Starc.
“Clearly Starc is carrying something of some description. Other than that, it looks as though we got through pretty unscathed,” head coach Andrew McDonald said as quoted by Indian Express.
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McDonald also indicated that Mitchell Marsh needs to put in better performances but downplayed it, stating that the team eventually won the game. Notably, the all-rounder has scored only 73 runs in four matches and picked up three wickets. His form is a matter of concern and for the same reason, the team management can hand him a break from the Sydney Test and give opportunity to Josh Inglis, who’s likely to feature in the Sri Lanka series.
“He’s in a good [head] space. Would you like better performances? There’s no doubt about that. Over four Test matches, he hasn’t been able to deliver at the level he would like and we would like. He’s up and about, though. We just won a Test match,” McDonald said about Marsh.
All-rounder Beau Webster could be another player who can replace Marsh. He was called up to the squad after the Gabba Test and could well replace Marsh if the team management ends up giving him a break.
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