Ashes 2023: Mitchell Starc skittles England despite busted shoulder

Mitchell Starc is dealing with plenty of discomfort after falling awkwardly on his left shoulder, but you would not know it from the way the big quick bowled overnight.

Mitchell Starc refused to get scans on his sore left shoulder as he plays through discomfort in a bid to secure Australia’s first away Ashes series win in 22 years.

Having spent time off the field during the fourth Test in Manchester after landing awkwardly on his shoulder in the field, the paceman was declared fit to play in the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

The left-armer delivered, taking 4-82 to rocket to the top of the series wicket-takers list despite being bypassed for the first Test in Birmingham.

Starc was brilliant in particular in removing England captain Ben Stokes with a ball that shaped late to uproot Stokes’ off-stump, as the hosts fell from 3-184 to be all out for 283.

But that wicket had itself come only after Starc had another stint getting treatment after aggravating his shoulder while throwing.

Starc with a sizzler to send Stokes packing! 🔥 #Ashespic.twitter.com/KRhbUiCFS9

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 27, 2023

Starc had been praised in the lead-up to the match by Australian captain Pat Cummins for an ability to play through pain.

And determined was Starc – who was picked for just one of the five Ashes Tests in 2019 – to feature in this match, he opted against getting a suspected AC joint issue scanned.

“I’m not interested in getting scanned or anything like that,” Starc said.

“That’s what the doc and physio think’s the case. We’ll worry about that at the end of the week. Just a bit of discomfort there, something going on there in the AC. Nothing major and still able to bowl and do what I need to do.

“I’ve played for over 10 years and been through a few niggles and injuries over the time. There’s been times when I’ve left the team a man down or other people have. We all push through niggles and whatnot. No difference this week, it’s just a little bit of discomfort and away we go.

Australia's Mitchell Starc bowls on the opening day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test. Picture: AFP

“It’s fine. It’s not the most comfortable thing but I don’t think any bowler (in) international cricket is going to say it’s something that’s comfortable for the body. So just push on, we’ve got a big week ahead of us to try and win this Ashes series and then a few weeks off so there’s no reason not to get up for this week.”

Starc elaborated on why he had left the field early in the middle session of day one.

“I just went and got some strapping. I probably shouldn’t have thrown it the way I did. All good,” Starc said.

Starc also said he had benefited from rain wiping out most of the last two days of play at Old Trafford, which helped Australia pick the same bowling attack for both Tests despite a short turnaround.

“The couple of extra days of rain in Manchester was obviously handy for our quicks, no doubt for them as well. Given the shoulder a chance to have a couple of quiet days and get stuck in today.”

Originally published as Ashes 2023: Mitchell Starc skittles England despite busted shoulder