Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc seems uncertain about being fit in time for the second Test against India, starting on Friday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Will Mitchell Starc Play In 2nd Test In Delhi?
After losing the first Test by a massive margin of an innings and 132 runs, the visitors are hoping that Starc’s finger injury nurses enough in time so that he can feature in Delhi. However, according to the pacer himself, he’s behind in terms of recovery as he had expected.
“There’s still a fair bit of restriction there,” Starc said on Tuesday. “Still lacking a bit of strength having been in a splint for six weeks. But it’s progressing – not as fast as I would have liked, but it’s as planned in terms of the medical stuff. There’s a few boxes to tick but it’s on track. I’d like to be a little further down the road.”
Starc’s left-arm angle and his ability of reverse swinging the ball was crucial in Australia’s success in Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year. Plus the left-hander also adds batting depth, which, in such low-scoring games in India, is a significant bonus.
Starc also creates rough outside the right-hander’s off-stump, something which Lyon and Murphy missed in the Nagpur Test with only right-arm pacers used across both teams.
In Starc’s and Josh Hazlewood’s absence in Nagpur, Scott Boland did well to contain runs and was economical, however, Boland didn’t get any wicket in his first Test outside Australia.
Cameron Green likely to play in Nagpur
Australia have received positive news from the other injury concern – that of Cameron Green. Both Green and Starc had suffered finger injuries in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.
While Mitchell Starc stayed back in Sydney to recover and fly directly to Delhi, Cameron Green has been with the team, and now he has shown great signs of being fit to take on the workload of a Test match in Delhi.
Green has at least been reported to be fit to bowl, but the youngster is advised to not stand in gully, his usual fielding position as his finger fracture is not 100 percent healed.
Cameron Green’s availability comes as a soothing balm, and confidence booster for skipper Pat Cummins.
Australia would want to bounce back strongly in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
