Cricket: Starc confident ankle will hold up

Mitchell Starc. Photo Reuters
Mitchell Starc. Photo Reuters
A cortisone jab has doubled as a confidence injection for Mitchell Starc, with the left-armer upbeat his ankle will hold up for all five Ashes tests.

Starc was sent for scans after injuring his ankle during the first test.

He bowled in extreme pain at Cardiff and was initially considered an unlikely starter for the second test at Lord's.

However, Starc is on the mend and expects he will be fit enough to play at Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Oval.

"I'm sure I will get through all five, as long as I'm picked," he said.

There is a three-day turnaround between the third and fourth tests, putting Starc at risk of being rested by team medical staff.

"I guess we'll see how many overs all the bowlers bowl this week. How everyone's tracking, how I'm tracking," he said.

"That decision will be made down the track."

Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood skipped their side's three-day clash with Derbyshire, which followed a 405-run win at Lord's.

The NSW paceman is feeling fresh, having completed the second test without too much pain.

"Compared to what it was in Cardiff, it was miles better," Starc said.

"Those cortisones I've had have started to kick in and it can only get better from here.

"I've had cortisone in the past and time helps it, so this week has probably been good for it to settle in.

"I'll feel better again this week ... hopefully it's gone."

It was speculated that Starc suffered a reoccurrence of bone spurs in his right ankle, an injury that required surgery in 2013.

However, that is not the case according to Starc.

"I'm sure they will probably come back one day, but at the moment I think it's just bone on bone," he said.

"The cortisone is going to help that and hopefully get me through the rest of the tour.

"The scan said it was all good, so there's no bone issue. No joint issue."

Starc earned the praise of Glenn McGrath and Ryan Harris for the way he mentally dismissed the niggle and bowled at over 145 kmh.

He downplayed the feat, suggesting pain was "part and parcel of fast bowling".

"You start to learn what you can and can't get through," Starc said.

"I knew there was nothing wrong with the joint, so just push on."

Add a Comment

OUTSTREAM