Mitchell Starc’s Fitness a Concern for Australia Ahead of Final Test

As Australia heads into the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, starting January 3, Mitchell Marsh remains under scrutiny for his lack of runs. However, despite his struggles with the bat, Australia’s selectors have no intention of dropping the all-rounder. They maintain that Marsh’s fitness is not in question, and his bowling, although underutilized, is not a major issue.

In contrast, Mitchell Starc’s fitness has become the bigger concern for the hosts as they prepare for the crucial Sydney Test. During the final day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, Starc experienced discomfort in his back. With Josh Hazlewood already sidelined due to injury, Australia can ill afford another setback with the series on the line.

However, Australia’s coaching staff, including head coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins, remain optimistic about Starc’s availability for the Sydney Test. They have back-up options in the squad, with players like Beau Webster, Jhye Richardson, and Sean Abbott ready to step in if needed.

Andrew McDonald commented on Starc’s condition: “Anytime you get through a game, it’s always a good indicator that you’re a chance at the next game. There was some discomfort early on in his spells, but once he warmed up, his ball speeds were good. We’ll assess how everyone recovers, as it was a pretty attritional game.”

McDonald also downplayed concerns regarding Mitchell Marsh‘s role in the team. “There’s no concern about Mitchell. I think people have been reading too much into that. We haven’t required him to bowl as often as we thought, but when he did, his speeds were up in the high 120s kph. There are no injury concerns with him,” McDonald said.

Image Credits: ANI News

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