Australia`s wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey feels that lead pacer Mitchell Starc will overcome the pain of a rib injury to feature in the fifth and final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Mitchell Starc`s fitness will remain a major concern for Australia as he experienced sore ribs from day three of the fourth Test match but still managed to deliver a performance effectively with the help of the physios.
“He`ll be fine. He will push through,” Carey told the media here on Wednesday.
Australia`s think tank will soon take a call on Mitchell Starc`s fitness ahead of the final Test match, but Carey is not so concerned about the pacer`s fitness.
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“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.”
Australia will try to bring their “A” game in the fifth Test match as the victory in the final game can help them regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15.
However, if India wins the game, they will retain the trophy, winning the series for a record-extending fifth straight time.
If Mitchell Starc was to be rested, fellow pacer Jhye Richardson would likely be called in as his replacement.
The 28-year-old last played a Test in December 2021, taking five second-innings wickets in the pink-ball Ashes clash against England at the Adelaide Oval.
Asked about the prospect of getting a call-up, Richardson told `cricket.com.au` that he was not thinking too much about the selection.
“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.”
(With PTI Inputs)