India’s the next big tour and we’ll see where the timeframe is with that – Mitchell Starc

Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc are both facing finger injuries but the latter is probably going to take a longer time to recover, making him a doubtful starter for the Test series against India in February.

Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc are both facing finger injuries but the latter is probably going to take a longer time to recover, making him a doubtful starter for the Test series against India in February. 

Green, who cracked his right index finger, is set to go through a medical procedure after he consulted a specialist but he is likely to make a recovery within a month’s time. 

Starc, meanwhile, may not need a medical procedure but the damage done to the tendon on his left middle finger could leave him uninvolved for a longer period.

“India’s the next big tour and we’ll see where the timeframe is with that. It’s my bowling hand so I’ve got to be pretty careful and make sure it heals properly,”

Starc told cricket.com.au on Thursday (December 29) following Australia’s innings victory against South Africa at the MCG. 

“The irony is (Green) will be back before I am. Bones are a bit quicker in the healing process; the tendon is a little bit different. I think we’ll both be seeing the same specialist.

“I still think everyone’s confident it will be more front-end (of the India tour that he will miss). It will obviously depend on how it heals and how quickly it can do what it needs to do,”

Regardless of his injured finger, which he sustained while fielding in the first innings, Starc bowled 18 overs in the second innings and managed to took the wicket of Sarel Erwee. 

While Green batted with his broke finger and struck a half-century, he was ruled out of bowling while the medical staff was hopeful that Starc would have the option to bowl without irritating his injury.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect. I need the middle finger for control more than anything. I’ve had a lot of painkillers. I could have jabbed it but I feel like I need the feeling of the ball on finger, otherwise I feel like I would have been spraying it everywhere,”

said Starc.

“I’ve played with a broken foot before … its Test match cricket. I’ve been on both sides of being injured and then with one man down (in the bowling department). Having Greeny with a busted finger as well probably helped that decision to try to push through. Especially with the bowling side of things, we had the whole second innings to go and it would have been tough to have just three bowlers,”

he said.

Captain Pat Cummins heaped praise on Starc and Green for making contributions regardless of their injuries while he also complimented Steve Smith and David Warner for their knocks in the first innings as they invested energy at the crease in warm temperatures.

Speaking at the press conference, the Australia captain said:

“(It’s) probably a good time to mention all the incredible achievements this week. Starcy with a finger that’s going to put him out for a few weeks, to have the bravery to go out and do that. Cam Green, the same, ‘guts-ing’ it out for us.

“We saw Steve Smith and Davey (Warner) on day two in 38 degrees – gutsy, gutsy innings. It just speaks volumes for the team at the moment. Everyone would do anything for each other so we’re in a really good place.”