NEWS
Follow UsMitchell Starc was clearly less than 100% on day 4 of the Boxing Day Test against India in Melbourne. The physio constantly attended to him at the boundary, but he bowled through the pain, and his deliveries came at the batters at a good pace.
In fact, there were murmurs of whether he would come out to bat on day four, given his back problems. But he came into bat at No. 9 in the second innings and scored five off 13 deliveries.
However, the concern over the left-arm pacer's fitness continues. Amidst this, Starc has provided an update on his injury. He says he is good to go on day five and will bowl as much as required on the final day of the Test on December 30 (Monday).
“It’s not something that is bothering me. My pace is up … If I need to bowl 20 [overs] tomorrow, I’ll bowl 20," Starc told ABC at the end of day four.
Should Starc not bowl, Australia will have only two frontline seamers in Pat Cummins and Scott Boland, with Mitchell Marsh chipping in with his medium-pacers every now and then.
Australia have a lead of 333 runs with one wicket in hand heading into day five. The final wicket stand between Nathan Lyon (41*) and Scott Boland (10*) worth 55 has frustrated India. Australia refused to declare on day four, despite having a substantial lead.
Starc defended that decision and added that this is the reason Test cricket has five days. “We’ve got 98 overs tomorrow. This [is] why we’ve got five days for a Test match and really stick it up [to] those who want four days!” Starc said, amid calls for four-day Tests.
The five-match series is currently level at 1-1. After the MCG Test, the action will shift to Sydney for the fifth Test from January 3 onwards.
