Steve Smith expects Starc to be fit for first Test

Australian skipper Steve Smith expects his spearhead Mitchell Starc to be ready for the first Test against South Africa in what will be the perfect christening of the Australian summer. Starc had earlier suffered an injury to his left shin in a training session at the Hurstville Oval. Smith described the injury as ‘one of the most gruesome’ things that he had ever seen.

The 27-year old pacer was rushed to the St. George Hospital where he received up to 30 stitches on the injured area. However, in spite of this, Smith has reiterated that there is no tendon or ligament damage and therefore expecting his best pacer to be fit ahead of the first Test of the summer which is set to being in approximately 45 days.

“It wasn’t nice at all,” Smith told reporters on Monday on the eve of the Australian team’s departure for the Qantas Tour of South Africa. It was actually probably one of the most gruesome things I have ever seen. I guess for Mitch (Starc), he’s got no tendon or ligament damage is so given everything goes well over the next couple of weeks we’re confident that’ll he be okay for the first Test match.”

Starc was previously out of the squad for the better part of six months. However, he made his comeback in the West Indies Tri-nation series soon after. “It was just one of those things,” Smith said. “You go for the ball and almost block everything out.

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He went on to illustrate the extent of the injury. “As he was catching it a few of us were saying ‘don’t go for it’ but he took the catch and then what happened after that wasn’t great.”

“He wasn’t overly impressed, but when things like that happen, particularly went he was about to have a bit of a rest and chill out those are the kind of things you don’t want happening,” Smith added. He’s going to have some time off his feet now, he’s going to have a proper rest. It wasn’t great but I’m sure in a couple of weeks’ time he’ll be okay and back into things,” Smith concluded.

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