Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has made a bold statement related to his selection for the second Test against India. The left-arm pacer said that he will do everything he can to be fully available for the selection. He said that he’s ready to field with a cap on his finger as did in Melbourne Test against South Africa
“I’ll do everything I can to be fully available for selection,” Australian Mitchell Starc ahead of the second Test against India
Premier Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has been out of the cricketing action since Boxing Day Test against South Africa. The left-arm pacer injured himself during the game and was ruled out of the third game. He detached the tendon from the bone of his left hand’s middle finger and after which a brace was placed on his finger.
It was expected that he would be get fit in time and will start the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But this wasn’t the case as he was deemed unfit and missed the first game due to injury. With the second game just a few hours away from now, there’s still no confirmation whether he will play or not.
However, he is optimistic about playing. While speaking to reporters, he said: “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. I’ll do everything I can to be fully available for selection, then it’s a discussion for the rest of the group involved.”
Mitchell Starc said, "will do everything to be fully available for the 2nd Test".
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 16, 2023
If Starc is given green signal to play then he could prove out to be a lethal weapon for Australia in the Indian conditions. His ability to reverse swing the ball could well be the game-changing thing for Australia.
“I’ll still field with a cap on (the finger), that’s what I did in Melbourne,” Mitchell Starc on his selection
Starc further went on to say that he he’s ready to field with a cap on his finger as did in Melbourne Test against South Africa. He elaborated:
“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 (after he initially broke the finger)…I don’t field myself in slip anyway.”
With Cameron Green also likely to be fit and reports suggesting that the visitors will play three spinners, it remains to be seen what changes will Australia make to their XI for the second Test.
