Despite not being as near to being fully healthy as he would like, Australia pacer Mitchell Starc believes he has “still a fair opportunity” to play in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Starc missed the first game of the series because of a finger injury he sustained while playing in the field against South Africa in December. Australia’s only fast bowlers in Nagpur were the captain Pat Cummins and Scott Boland; All-rounder Cameron Green, who is also recovering from a fractured finger, was unable to travel.
Alex Carey says a ‘disappointed’ Travis Head responded well to a tough selection call in Nagpur #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/aA4fXGzqMB— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 14, 2023
The pacer stayed in Sydney to bowl four sessions at home rather than traveling to Nagpur with the team. He came to India on a Saturday, and the night before the second Test, he met up with his teammates in Delhi.
“I’d like to be a little further down the road. Still, a good chance so it’ll come down to how it reacts by the end of (Wednesday), how the medical staff see it, how the selectors and Pat ( Cummins) and Ronnie (coach Andrew McDonald) feel about it as well,” Starc told reporters in the national capital.
“I’ll do everything I can to be fully available for selection, then it’s a discussion for the rest of the group involved. I don’t think (batting will be an issue) so it’s going to be uncomfortable but I don’t think it’s an issue.”
I think I’ll still field with a cap on (the finger), that’s what I did in Melbourne. I don’t field myself in slip anyway,” he added.
Australia will be looking to bounce back in Delhi after going down 1-0 in the four-match series. The second Test of the four-match series will take place from February 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where India have not lost a Test since 1987.