Ashes 2023: Australia confident that Mitchell Starc will bowl again in fourth Test despite injury scare on Day 2

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is one of those players who commit their hundred percent on the field. In the ongoing fourth Test of the Ashes 2023 at Old Trafford, Starc had a minor injury scare as he attempted to dive and stop a shot in the mid-on area. The result was a minor shoulder injury following which he had to be withdrawn from the field.

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However, he jumped right back in after some treatment. But he was unable to throw the ball well due to which skipper Pat Cummins instructed him to get off the field and give his injury some rest to settle. The pacer took a few trial run-ups and warm-up deliveries, he looked in good rhythm to come back and bowl again. Moreover, Starc also showed signs of discomfort with a separate issue in his left leg.

‘We're pretty confident it will be right tomorrow’ -  Daniel Vettori

After the game, Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori addressed the situation around Mitchell Starc. He said, "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 like."

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"I think he felt confident that he could bowl just from his warm-up balls. When he was put to the test (in the field) three balls in a row, he just didn't quite feel right throwing it in so that led to him jumping back off. I think the leg is good, no issues there. We're all pretty confident he can bounce back," the former New Zealand skipper added. As of now, England has taken a lead of 67 runs on Day 2 whereas Australia need six more first-inning wickets.