Alex Carey Expects Mitchell Starc To ‘Push Through’ Rib Injury Concerns Ahead Of SCG Test

Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, Alex Carey has revealed that the left-arm pacer, Mitchell Starc would ‘push through’ his rib injury to play the final Test against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series which begins on Friday at Sydney.

Starc’s fitness remains a big worry for the hosts as he pushed through sore ribs from day 3 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, but he maintained his consistency with help from the team’s physios.

“He’ll be fine. He will push through,” Carey told the media here on Wednesday.

The Australian selectors are likely to take a call on Starc’s fitness ahead of the final Test but Carey remains confident in the pacer being able to deliver.

“I’ve played with Starcy (Mitchell Starc) for a long time now and he is one of the toughest cricketers that I’ve played with. He’ll grimace and grab his rib without a doubt at times but he’ll be ready for the contest,” he commented.

The hosts will be looking to take a win or at least finish with a draw as those results would see the Aussies reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since the 2014/15 season. If India manages to push through with a win then the series would end in a draw with two wins each. But India would keep the title for a record-extending fifth time.

Should the Australian selectors decide to rest Starc, Jhye Richardson could get the nod for selection to replace him. The 28-year-old last played for the Baggy Greens in December 2021 where took five wickets in the second innings of the pink ball Test against England at the Adelaide Oval.

Asked about the prospect of getting a call-up, Richardson told ‘cricket.com.au’ that he was not thinking too much about the selection.

“It’s hard to think about that (prospect of playing the next Test). You can’t spend too much energy wondering about what’s going to happen with selections,” he said.

“(I’m) trying to not think about it too much but if the opportunity arises, I’ll do my best to grab it,” he added.