Ashes 2023: Mitchell Starc injury will not prevent him from bowling claims Vettori

It was a a disastrous day in the field for Australia with one of the team’s two specialist bowlers, Mitchell Starc, injuring his shoulder and appearing to tweak a hamstring.

Mitchell Starc (C) was forced from the field after receiving medical attention. Picture: AFP

Australia is playing down the severity of Mitchell Starc’s shoulder injury after the paceman sent a scare through the camp when landing awkwardly late on day two of the second Test.

A poor day for the Aussies – in which England reached 4-384 after the tourists were bowled out for 317 – looked to have turned even nastier when Starc left the field clutching his left shoulder after diving.

He briefly returned to the field but unable to throw on his left arm without discomfort he headed off once again.

Starc had also clutched at the back of his leg several times earlier in the day.

However Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori said after play that the Aussies expect Starc to be able to bowl on Friday.

Pat Cummins checks on Mitchell Starc after the incident in the field. Picture: Getty Images

The Aussies indicated there were no plans to send the left-armer for scans, and that he would be assessed in the morning.

“I think the leg is good, no issues there,” Vettori said.

“The shoulder, we saw what happened in the field, he’s currently got some ice on it and we’re pretty confident it will be right tomorrow.

“He’s just one of those guys who doesn’t like to spend too long off the park. He just wanted to get on the field as quickly as possible to see how it was. But he got straight into a hot spot and three balls in a row came to him in the field and he didn’t quite feel comfortable throwing it – I haven’t actually spoken to him but that’s what it looked. We’re all pretty confident he can bounce back tomorrow.”

Australia has concerns beyond Starc’s fitness given England’s ascendancy. Forecast rain on the weekend could save the Aussies however Vettori said the tourists were not yet eyeing an Ashes-clinching draw.

“I think obviously England are in control but if we can come in tomorrow morning and get those final wickets for as few runs then it then it sets up for that final innings and the weather may play a part in that but I think the first session is a crucial one for us,” Vettori said.

“I think it all leads to batting exceptionally well in the third innings and that’s what will set up the rest of the game as well as how we build tomorrow.

Mitchell Starc - 33yo | 330 wickets in...

CAREER BEST #Test bowling form IMO.

Upskilling. Seam position 🤌🏽 #Ashes

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— Trent Copeland (@copes9) July 20, 2023

“So look I think it will be about the performance rather than the result. And I know that’s easy to say but we won’t have a chance to have a sound result unless we do this the next day well and I think that’ll be the key messaging from (coach) Andrew (McDonald) and (captain) Patty (Cummins) going forward that we have to do the third day well to give us the chance on the fourth and fifth days if there is play or if it is weather influenced.”

Zak Crawley blasted 189 at better than a run a ball, with supporting knocks from Joe Root (84) and Moeen Ali (54) set the game up for the hosts.

Mitchell Starc (C) was forced from the field after receiving medical attention. Picture: AFP

Vettori said England had simply batted too well for the Aussies on a wicket not offering much for the bowlers, particularly during a middle session in which the hosts added 178 to their total.

“It was obviously a taxing session because Crawley was so dominant and he played so well right from the onset,” Vettori said.

“We had some clear plans to him but he was too good for us on a wicket like that today. That period when him and Root got together, it was almost all-out attack. We knew how important that partnership was and the run-rate got away from us, where in the past when we’ve gone to that plan we’ve been able to manage the run-rate. Today it wasn’t possible. That was because two batsmen were too good on the day.”