Aussie quick Mitchell Starc sent for back scans amid speculation over team changes for Sydney Test
Mitchell Starc has had scans on his back after struggling with pain in his torso during the historic Boxing Day Test match.
Starc is a ‘good chance’ to be back-up for the SCG decider, but Australia will wait to see how the star bounces back quickly from a Boxing Day Test epic.
After completing a stunning MCG win against India late on day five, Australia have just three days off before the fifth and final Test begins in Sydney.
Australia will regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15 if they win or draw the New Year Test.
A win for India and a 2-2 draw would allow the tourists to retain the trophy and emerge with the spoils for a record-extending fifth straight.
Starc struggled with sore ribs after day three in Melbourne but soldiered on and took the crucial wicket of star veteran Virat Kohli to set up lunch on Monday.
Mitchell Starc has been sent for scans on his back after struggling with pain during the epic Boxing Day Test
The Aussie Quick could grimace in pain the entire match
News Corp reported on Wednesday that Starc had been sent for scans and that the results would be crucial in determining whether he will play.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald termed the bowling performance during India’s second innings as this group’s finest hour.
“Every time you complete the game it’s always a good indication that you have a chance in the next game,” McDonald said of Starc.
‘It didn’t stop him. Obviously there was some discomfort in the beginning of the periods, but once he got warm he seemed to be quite free.
“The morning session there, the 20-plus overs we bowled (on Monday), is probably as good as we delivered.
“If that’s any indication, ‘Starcy’ was part of that, and as a collective it was relentless and really gave us a chance to control the game.”
But if the NSW veteran is unable to play on his home ground after losing 41 overs in Melbourne, Australia are confident Jhye Richardson, or even the uncapped Sean Abbott, can step up.
Richardson took five wickets in the last of his three Tests in 2021, but the West Australian quick has struggled with several injuries during his career.
The results of the scans will be crucial in deciding whether he will play at the SCG
Australian coach Andrew McDonald believes Starc has a ‘good’ chance of playing
“He (Richardson) has had a tough week in the nets for us, all indications are that he would be capable of bowling more than 40 overs if he were called upon,” McDonald said.
All-rounder Mitch Marsh has endured a tough series with the bat, making just 73 runs at 10.42.
Marsh dealt with a sore back in Perth which affected his bowling and has not taken a wicket from a total of 16 overs in three Tests since.
In-form all-rounder Beau Webster is in the squad and is patiently waiting for a debut.
But it would be a big call to effectively end the Test career of Marsh, a popular team member and reigning Allan Border medalist, with the series on the line.
“I think people probably read too much into that (sore back),” McDonald said of Marsh.
‘We didn’t ask him to play the ball as often as we thought.
“It’s a bit unfair to do it that way, we just haven’t needed him at certain times for whatever reason.”
It will be the first time that a Test series in Australia has gone to the usual SCG final with a trophy up for grabs since India toured here in 2003-04.
Captain Pat Cummins declared it equaled last year’s Edgbaston Ashes match as the best Test win he was involved in, telling his teammates to first savor the 184-run win at the MCG.
If Australia can lift the trophy in Sydney, it would be the first time since the 1997 Ashes that they have recovered from a 0-1 deficit to win a Test series.
It would mark a dramatic turnaround after being embarrassed by India in Perth to start this blockbuster five-Test battle.
A win at the SCG would earn Australia a place in the second straight World Test Championship final after they defeated India in the 2023 decider.
South Africa became the first team to qualify for the WTC finals at Lord’s next year by winning a dramatic match at home against Pakistan on Sunday.
India are facing selection issues of their own after dropping No. 3 Shubman Gill and whipping captain Rohit Sharma back into form to open – for returns of three and nine.