A significant question mark surrounds Mitchell Starc’s participation in the third and final Test of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) after suffering a finger injury in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.
On the first day of play at the MCG, the 32-year-old injured the middle fingertip of his bowling arm when attempting a catch at long-on. Mitchell Starc left for treatment almost away after the event, and according to rumours, he even participated in a brief nets session.
He has been given the all-clear to play as of right now, although it is highly doubtful that the southpaw will bowl anymore in the game.
Cricket Australia, in a statement, said that his “condition will be reassessed at the completion of the match”
BREAKING: Mitchell Starc set to be ruled out of Sydney Test @NewsCorpCricket https://t.co/cSiYTENJaf pic.twitter.com/iW8UPCTGsG
— Ben Horne (@BenHorne8) December 26, 2022
In the event that Mitchell Starc does not play in the Sydney Test, Josh Hazlewood or Lance Morris are likely to be given the go-ahead. Both bowlers were observed striking the nets on the second day of the Test. Given that SCG has historically been a spin-friendly stadium, the team management can also add a specialist spinner.
Australia opener David Warner scores a double century in his 100th Test
David Warner was one of the players who were likely to be pulled from the Test squad after struggling for a while. But the southpaw silenced his detractors by scoring a superb double century in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
The 36-year-old, who was participating in his 100th Test match, finally hit a Test century after nearly three years and celebrated in style. Unfortunately, while celebrating, the opener hurt himself and had to leave the game to get medical attention.
David Warner became just the eighth Australian to reach the 8000-run plateau in Test cricket.
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