Ashes 2017-18: Injury woes for Australia ahead of the Boxing Day Test

Starc 1
Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc and Tim Payne are injured. Image Source: File Pic

Internet Desk: Australia’s wicket-keeper Tim Paine and his teammate, speed star Mitchell Starc are doubtful in the Boxing Day Test against England in Ashes test in Melbourne.

Starc was seen walking through Crutches at Melbourne Airport but, he was not yet to ready to concede defeat.

“It won’t be my choice,” he told reporters, Starc said.

Reports said that Starc, who is Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the Ashes series with 19, could be ruled out of the fourth Test as soon as Saturday.

If Starc is unable to recover in time understudy Jackson Bird is expected to take his place in the XI.

With Australia having already claimed the Ashes, another factor against the left-armer playing in the Boxing Day Test is an upcoming series in South Africa, with selectors keen to pick a healthy Starc in the touring party.

Paceman Ryan Harris, who often played in pain throughout a Test career that included Australia’s home Ashes success four years ago, knows how much of an impediment a bruised heel can be.

“I have had it. They can be quite painful,” Harris told radio on Friday.

“You can’t hide it. You can’t change anything — the way you land or try and get around it.”

Reports emerged on Friday that Paine is also no certainty to play in the showpiece Melbourne Cricket Ground Test.

Paine with the batting average of 43.33 taken 15 catches and a stumping in the ongoing Ashes series didn’t travel to Melbourne with the rest of the teammates because of some personal issues.

According to The Daily Telegraph Paine went home as his father-in-law suffered a stroke.

Peter Handscomb could potentially play as a wicketkeeper while Cameron Bancroft was behind the stumps for Western Australia during the the early rounds of the domestic Sheffield Shield season.