Australia were beaten fair and square in the 1st Ashes Test in Cardiff, they would be having an opportunity to level the series in the 2nd Test at the Lord’s, but it will not be easy seeing the injury of Mitchell Starc.
Starc was the wrecker-in-chief for Australia as he finished with a fifer in the first innings, and then a couple in the second, despite taking pain-killers during the game.
The Aussie paceman had a strained right ankle, raising doubts over his availability for the 2nd Ashes Test. However, Australia skipper Michael Clarke is hopeful that the lanky pacer will be available for the selection.
Starc is racing against time for the recovery as there are just a couple of days left for the start of second Test in London. If Starc fails to recover, he would be replaced by either Peter Siddle or Pat Cummins in the playing XI.
“Starcy obviously had some ankle pain and had an injection to bowl in the second innings, but the positive again was the fact that he was able to bowl and do what was needed for the team,” Clarke said. “He batted as well in the second innings and ran between the wickets fine.”
“Spending a bit of time with the Australian physio today, he’s confident that, although it’s a short turnaround before the second test, there’s been a lot of positives come out of the last couple of days since he was cortisoned, and things are going really well there.”
