Mitchell Starc to miss the last two Tests against India due to injury

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests in Ranchi and Dharamsala with a fractured foot, Cricket Australia confirmed on Friday (March 10).

“At this stage, no replacement has been named for Starc, with Tasmania’s Jackson Bird the reserve fast bowler in the touring party,” said the board via a release. The pace spearhead would return home to begin his rehabilitation, Cricket Australia said in a statement.

“Mitchell experienced some pain in his right foot during the second Test in Bangalore which unfortunately had not subsided a few days after the Test as we had hoped,” revealed David Beakley, the team’s physiotherapist.

Starc is the most lethal fast bowler in the world, particularly on sub-continental pitches he has made his mark, and it will be difficult to imagine a more devastating injury setback for a team that is on the back foot already after losing the second Test in Bangalore.

It’s understood that Starc will recover in time for the one-day Champions Trophy in June, but Australia’s try to create the drought-breaking history in India looks like a huge challenge now.

Jackson Bird is the third fast bowler on tour and has performed well in the nets. It would be expected Bird would slot straight in, but, Cricket Australia may roll the dice on calling up Pat Cummins who has just returned to first-class cricket.

Also read – Martin Guptill ruled out of the beginning of IPL 2017

Starc sparked the collapse in Pune which laid the foundation for Australia’s victory on Indian soil after many years, and in Bangalore also he broke through with back-to-back wickets on the last day which gave the visitors some hope of achieving a fourth innings chase.

The left-armer also has been sensational with the willow down the order and his lower-order hitting in Pune was also critical. With his absence in the remainder of the series, Australia may have to  struggle a bit.