Uncertainty remains over the status of Mitchell Starc, the Australian spearhead, for the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney starting on January 4.
The fiery left-armer missed the drawn fourth Test after suffering a bruised heel in Perth a few weeks ago. It appeared Starc’s Ashes series was over but the 27-year-old has recovered well and is in the selection frame for the SCG Test.
On a slow and flat MCG wicket, Starc’s absence was telling as Australia’s attack struggled to threaten in the fourth Test to end their dreams of an Ashes whitewash. Keen to play in the Ashes finale, Starc took part in fielding drills at the SCG on Tuesday (January 2) then had a prolonged stint bowling off his full run-up without signs of discomfort.
If Starc pulls up well from the workout, selectors face a tricky selection call ahead of Australia’s crucial upcoming Test tour of South Africa. “He’s (Starc) really keen to play and he was pretty confident,” Pat Cummins, the Australian quick, told reporters in Sydney. “He looked like he was bowling quick … now it’s seeing how it recovers. He said it’s got better the last week or two since Perth. So hopefully he gets through today and he’s alright.
“He’s played a lot of cricket now and he knows his body pretty well and what he can get through. I’m sure they will take a lot of it on his word.”
Having dealt with his share of misfortune, Cummins experienced a painful bruised heel in 2011 but said Starc’s injury was less severe. “If you keep smashing it, it will get bigger and bigger but he says it’s in a good spot now,” he said. “The last couple of weeks it’s definitely got a lot better.”
Glenn McGrath, the legendary Australian paceman, hoped Starc would be fit but urged selectors to be cautious. “With a big tour of South Africa coming up … if he’s 100 percent fit I’d play him,” he told reporters in Sydney. “If he’s not quite there, unfortunately (the selectors) might have to let him have a rest.”
Selectors added West Australian left-arm spinner Ashton Agar to Australia’s squadbut will make a final call after examining the SCG wicket, which traditionally favours spin. However, the current track is currently covered in grass meaning Agar might miss making a debut Test in Australia and potentially provide a reprieve for quick Jackson Bird, who is in the gun after a wicketless performance in Melbourne.
“I haven’t had a look (at the SCG pitch) but I like the colour of it,” Cummins said. “They’re going to cut it in the next couple of days … but it doesn’t look as bare as I guess you sometimes see here.”
