Mitchell Starc seriously injured at MCG? Pacer drops huge injury update

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has put aside any injury concerns, as he is fully focused and ready to face the challenge of bowling India out again in the ongoing Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.

Mitchell Starc has had a bit of a ‘niggle in his back or his rib,’ and even he needed physio treatment on Day 3 of the ongoing fourth Test between India and Australia in Melbourne.

Mitchell Starc rises above injury worries, prepared for hard work in Boxing Day Test

However, the senior Australian pacer Starc didn’t leave the field while Nitish Kumar Reddy and Sundar Washington mounted a strong fightback for India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

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Starc bowled 25 overs but failed to take a wicket as India responded with 369 to Australia’s first-innings total of 474 in the ongoing Boxing Day Test. When asked about his fitness before the play of Day 4, the Australian pacer confirmed that he felt good and had not lost any pace.

With Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to a calf injury, Starc’s role has become even more crucial, as the Australian pace attack, made up entirely of bowlers over 30, looks to keep the pressure on India. Starc is now set to give his all in India’s second innings, and he's ready for the tough work ahead.

Mitchell Starc was quoted as saying by SEN, “All good ... my pace didn’t drop. I’m ready to go today.”

Mitchell Starc discusses the physical strain of a Five-Test series against India

Meanwhile, Starc also opened up about the challenge of being a key bowler throughout a five-match Test series against India. The star pacer acknowledged the physical strain of back-to-back matches and long days, especially after Australia was short of a bowler in the previous Test.

Despite the challenge, Starc emphasized that hard work is part of Test cricket, and he's ready for the tough days ahead in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against India.

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The star pacer added, “I’m not sure anyone really understands it unless they’ve had to do it. It is what it is; it's Test cricket. It’s a five-Test series, some close matches back-to-back, and a few long days.

Obviously, we were a bowler down (in) the last Test, and it’s probably more the MCG of old. It’s going to be hard work these last two days, but that’s Test cricket, and that’s what we’re here for.”

Starc reflects on the MCG pitch, and says it’s not as bowler-friendly as expected

Starc also explained that the pitch for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG is not as bowler-friendly as it used to be in the recent Test encounters. The pacer noted that the pitch didn’t seem to be deteriorating as expected and that the new ball didn’t offer as much movement as they had hoped.

He signed off by saying, “We thought it might do more with the new ball, which it probably hasn’t. We bowled some really, really good stuff with no reward, so good old-fashioned Test cricket— a bit like the MCG of old. We cast some really, really, really good spells.”