Australia suffered a massive injury setback ahead of the fourth Test starting on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with pace spearhead Mitchell Starc ruled out due to a heel injury. Starc, who currently is the leading wicket-taker with 19 scalps to his name, has been replaced with Jackson Bird. Starc had injured his heel while bowling during the fourth Test, which Australia won in Perth last week to regain the Ashes. He had been cleared of a serious foot injury, however, he has failed to recover in time for the Boxing Day Test.
Starc said he hoped to return for the series-ending Sydney Test on January 4.
“It’s never nice to miss but it would be pretty selfish of me to go in to a game not at 100 percent,” he said.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Tim Paine is expected to play, after initially remaining at home in Hobart after his father-in-law suffered a stroke.
