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NEW DELHI: Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is expected to “push through” the discomfort of a rib injury to play in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series, which starts in Sydney on Friday, according to Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey.
With assistance from the team’s physiotherapists, the 34-year-old left-hand quick bowled well despite suffering from sore ribs on day three of the Boxing Day Test, but his fitness is still the key concern for the hosts.
“He’ll be fine. He will push through,” Carey told the media in Sydney on Wednesday.
Closer to the Test, the Australian selectors will probably make a decision regarding Starc’s fitness, but Carey stated he had no worries at all about his teammate’s fitness.
“I’ve played with Starcy (Mitchell Starc) for a long time now and he is one of the toughest cricketers that I’ve played with. He’ll grimace and grab his rib without a doubt at times but he’ll be ready for the contest.”
The hosts need to win or draw the fifth Test in Sydney in order to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy again for the first time since 2014-15.
But if India wins, they will keep the trophy and win the series for a record-extending fifth time in a row.
Fellow pacer Jhye Richardson would probably be called in to replace Starc if he were to take a break.
The 28-year-old’s last Test match was against England at the Adelaide Oval in December 2021, where he claimed five second-inning wickets.
When asked if he was considering getting called up, Richardson told ‘cricket.com.au’ that he wasn’t giving the selection any thought.
“It’s hard to think about that (prospect of playing the next Test). You can’t spend too much energy wondering about what’s going to happen with selections.
“(I’m) trying to not think about it too much but if the opportunity arises, I’ll do my best to grab it.”
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