Injured Mitchell Starc likely to miss opening Test against India

Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is likely to miss the opening Test of the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy after he mentioned that his finger injury most probably won't heal by that time.

Starc sustained a severe injury during the recently concluded Boxing Day Test against South Africa. He suffered an injury to the middle finger of his left hand as the tendon from the bone got detached.

As a result of the injury he was ruled out of the third Test in Sydney which eventually ended in a draw due to frequent rain interruptions and Australia claimed the three-match Test series 2-0. 

Australia are currently leading the World Test Championship points table with 136 points to their credit and are one of the favourites to play in the summit clash of the competition. Their upcoming hosts India are placed second on the table with a total of 99 points.

The first Test of the eagerly anticipated series is slated to be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association in Nagpur from February 9 onwards and Starc doesn't expect to regain full fitness ahead of the first game.

There is a four-day gap between the first Test and the second Test. The second match is scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi from February 17 onwards.

"That's probably likely (I will miss the first Test)," Starc told AAP at the launch of Amazon Prime's The Test documentary. We'll see how we're placed at the end of the month."

"Hopefully I am there for the second Test if they want to play me. Maybe I can make some footmarks for Gazza (Nathan Lyon) or something. We'll see how the finger is," mentioned Starc.

The trio of Josh Hazlewood, skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc alongside off-spinner Nathan Lyon will be key to Australia's chances in the upcoming series.

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