Sunday 12 July 2015 11:31, UK
Australia are confident that fast bowler Mitchell Starc will be fit for the second Investec Ashes Test at Lord’s.
The left-arm quick appeared to be in significant pain during the opener at Cardiff, which England won by 169 runs.
He was able to run in without too many problems, but he was grimacing with pain in his follow-through. He needed pain-killing injections to finish the game.
The team’s physio Alex Kountouris is however confident Starc will be fit and ready for the Lord’s Test, which begins on Thursday.
“Mitchell experienced some pain in the back of his right ankle during the Test match which is common with fast-bowlers,” he said.
“He was in discomfort while bowling but since then has improved significantly.
“We will monitor him over the next few days but the plan is for him to take part in some light training and we are hopeful he will be available for selection for the second Test beginning on Thursday.”
Australia head coach Darren Lehmann, speaking before Kountouris had delivered his verdict, will no doubt be keen to have Starc at his disposal for the Lord's Test but insisted he must be fully-fit if he is to be available for selection.
"We'll see how he pulls up but he's going to have to be 100 per cent," he said.
"We need to make sure he's ready to go and we'll make that decision after speaking to the medics over the next couple of days."
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