Australia remain upbeat about the chances of their attack spearhead, Mitchell Starc, being fit to take the field for the second Test at Lord’s, with the captain, Michael Clarke, claiming the left-armer has reacted positively to treatment on his injured right ankle over the past two days.
Starc was the standout bowler for the tourists during their 169-run defeat in the first Test in Cardiff, taking seven wickets, but showed visible signs of discomfort during England’s first innings and requiring a cortisone injection to complete the match.
While Cricket Australia have not specified the nature of the problem, the 25-year-old has developed bone spurs in the area twice already in his career and is understood to be suffering a recurrence of the condition.
Starc has been able to continue bowling with bone spurs in the past - which are calcified growths that develop as a reaction to impact on the joint - playing two Tests against India in 2013 before undergoing surgery that saw him sidelined for two-and-a-half months.
Speaking to Triple M Radio in Melbourne on Monday, his captain, Clarke, said: “Starcy obviously had some ankle pain and had an injection to bowl in the second innings, but the positive again was the fact that he was able to bowl and do what was needed for the team.
“Spending a bit of time with the Australian physio today, he’s confident that, although it’s a short turnaround before the second Test, there’s been a lot of positives come out of the last couple of days since he was cortisoned, and things are going really well there.”
The Australian head coach, Darren Lehmann, continued the positive outlook on Starc but insisted that, with their side already 1-0 down in the series, no player will be selected who cannot be guaranteed to last the full five days.
“We’ve received some positive news with Mitchell Starc’s right ankle showing significant improvement and we’re hopeful that he’ll be able to do some light training during the week and be available for selection” he told the Cricket Australia website.
“Our biggest consideration is that we want the players we take on to the field on Thursday to be 100% fit. Especially when you consider the importance of this Test after losing the opening match of the series.”
Right-armer Peter Siddle is being lined up as a possible replacement, although could feature in their thinking anyway should the pitch, prepared by groundsman Mick Hunt, not be considered conducive to the bounce required by Starc’s fellow left-armer Mitchell Johnson.
The surfaces are clearly affecting Australia’s thinking, with batsman David Warner admitting he is struggling to adapt. The opener made 52 in their failed chase of 412 and saw his bat repeatedly beaten by Stuart Broad before being trapped lbw by Moeen Ali.
“I don’t think you’re ever ‘in’. There’s always that one ball, that bunch of clouds that come over and it starts swinging, that one little bit of movement off the wicket to get you guessing,” Warner told Sydney’s Sky Sports Radio. “You don’t really feel ‘in’ at all on these type of wickets over here.”
Warner also offered support to 34-year-old all-rounder Shane Watson, who was preferred ahead of Mitchell Marsh in Cardiff despite the younger man scoring back-to-back centuries in Australia’s warm-up matches with Kent and Essex, and admitted the selectors will face serious scrutiny if they back-track on that call after just one Test
“I feel Watson is in a great space at the moment; he’s doing everything right, said Warner. “The other day we all got ourselves in and just didn’t go on with it. It’s as simple as that. I think he’s a great asset to our team and brings a lot of experience to our team as well.”
“If they make changes then people will go ‘Oh, you can’t make this many changes in a series that you’ve just played one game’. There’s going to be people questioning every little thing they [selectors] do but they’ve got to pick a team they think is best to go out there and beat England. I’d rather be in my shoes than their shoes.”
Meanwhile, Australian one-day opener Aaron Finch looks unlikely to feature in the limited overs series that follows the Ashes after being diagnosed with a stress fracture of the foot while playing for Yorkshire. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell will now remain playing for the county champions instead of a planned trip to India with Australia A next week.
