Ashes 2017: Jackson Bird on standby after Mitchell Starc suffers bruised heel

MITCHELL Starc, who arrived back from Perth on crutches, looks set for scans on his bruised heel later this week as the fast bowler fights to prove his fitness for the Boxing Day Test.

Australian pacemen Mitchell Starc is being monitored after he suffered a bruised heel.

MITCHELL Starc looks set for scans on his bruised heel later this week as the Australian fast bowler fights to prove his fitness for the Boxing Day Test.

Jackson Bird is on standby to come into the attack at the MCG, with selectors and medical staff needing to seriously weigh up the risks of pushing their spearhead quick too far when there’s an important South African Test tour around the corner.

Starc arrived back in Sydney yesterday on crutches as he tries to rest his sore heel, but the big left-armer has already told captain Steve Smith he wants to play.

Injured cricketer Mitchell Starc arrives at Sydney Airport. Picture: Jane Dempster

For one of Australia’s most established stars, Starc has had a cursed run with the iconic Boxing Day Test, and has played only one in his career.

Teammate Usman Khawaja said Starc’s injury wasn’t overly serious and he would be desperate to play.

“I think Starcy is doing alright. I’m sure whatever the case is, he’s going to be doing everything he can to play on Boxing Day,” said Khawaja.

“He bowled beautifully this game. He was obviously in a bit of pain. But I think they’re going to have to assess it in the next couple of days. You never know what’s really happening until you get a bit of a break.

“Hopefully he’ll be there for Boxing Day.”

Mitchell Starc’s rehab began as soon as Australia clinched the Ashes.

Bird hasn’t played a Test match since the corresponding MCG match against Pakistan last year, however, he has been in superb form in the Sheffield Shield.

The ultra-consistent right-armer has taken 25 wickets in four matches this season, including a barnstorming five-wicket haul for Tasmania against South Australia.

Australia face an agonising call over Starc because players regard Boxing Day and the SCG Tests as the pinnacle, and being part of an Ashes whitewash is a rare achievement.

However, selectors may also think there’s bigger fish to fry now that the series has been locked up.

Beating South Africa on similar pitches to what this Ashes has been played on will require Australia’s outstanding pace bowling attack firing on all cylinders.

As Starc’s “ball of the century” delivery at the WACA showed, there is no bowler in world cricket capable of his lethal pace, swing and bounce.

Mitchell Starc is congratulated by former Test quick Mitchell Johnson after the Test.

Scans are likely for Starc and an update on his progress is expected by the end of the week.

Waiting in the wings is Bird, a man who this year toured India and Bangladesh without getting a single game.

In India, Australia preferred to call Pat Cummins over to replace an injured Starc after two Tests, and in Bangladesh selectors controversially called in spinner Steve O’Keefe for the second Test to replace Josh Hazlewood who had broken down with a side strain.

It meant selectors went with Cummins as the only quick, leaving Bird once again mixing drinks.

Bird was never a legitimate chance to play in the first three Tests of this series, with the big three of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood always preferred – and even Chadd Sayers was ahead of him as a shadow man for Adelaide.

However, Bird has now entered the frame.

Jackson Bird sends one down in the WACA nets. Picture: Getty Images

And hugs skipper Steve Smith after the Third Test win. Picture: AAP

Australia decided against releasing him to his Big Bash League club, and he will remain with the squad in the lead-up for Boxing Day.

The first and last of Bird’s eight Test matches have been at the MCG, and if Starc doesn’t pull up during the week they will go with the ultra-consistent Tasmanian.

Bird averages 27 with the ball in Test cricket and has taken 20 wickets in his past four Tests.

Starc is a crucial component in the Australian attack and to lose him for any length of time would be an enormous blow.

It’s not yet known the extent of his injury and Australian medical staff won’t get a chance to properly monitor him until after the Test.

Australia have a huge amount of cricket ahead of them with a tour of South Africa to follow this Ashes series.

Selectors and medical staff had always indicated it would be highly unlikely an unchanged bowling attack would get through this Ashes series.

Starc has been overworked in the past and Australia will be determined not to do risk that again.