Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey expressed confidence that Mitchell Starc will overcome his rib injury and take the field in the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against India, which is scheduled to start on Friday.
Speaking exclusively to the media on Wednesday, Carey praised Starc's toughness, describing him as one of the most resilient cricketers he has ever played alongside.
"He'll be fine. He will push through," said Carey.
"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," he added.
The 34-year-old sustained the injury on the third day of the Boxing Day Test. Despite the discomfort, the fast bowler continued to bowl.
If Starc is unavailable for the match, 28-year-old pacer Jhye Richardson is expected to be called up as his replacement.
Richardson, who made his debut on December 21, impressed during the Pink Ball Ashes against England at the Adelaide Oval, claiming crucial wickets in the second innings.
Discussing the prospect of being selected for the final Test, Richardson told an Australian media outlet, "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. If the opportunity arises, I'll do my best to grab it."
It is pertinent to mention that the left-arm pacer has delivered exceptional performances in the ongoing five-match Test series, taking 15 wickets in four Test matches at an average of 28.73 and an economy rate of 3.28, with best figures of 6/48.
In 2024, Starc took 31 wickets in nine matches at an average of 31.54 and an economy rate of 3.58.
With the ongoing series now at 2-1, Australia will aim for a win in the final Test in Sydney, scheduled from January 3–7.
A victory in this match against India will secure their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, as even if they lose 2-0 in the following series against Sri Lanka, they will still finish with 57.02 points.
Meanwhile, South Africa became the first team to secure a spot in the WTC final after their recent Test victory against Pakistan.
- Mitchell Starc
