Australian pace ace Mitchell Starc has declared he wants to play in the Boxing Day Test, but he may be overruled by the team’s medical staff.
Australia reclaimed the Ashes urn with an innings victory during the third Test at the WACA Ground, but Starc was troubled by a bruised heel on his right foot during England’s second innings.
Starc finished the match with figures of 4-91 and 1-44.
Australia are now 3-0 up, and are eager to push for a 5-0 series sweep.
But with a Test tour of South Africa coming up after the Australian summer, selectors may opt to rest Starc for the Boxing Day Test.
“Having seen him just there, he said ‘I’m playing’. Whether he has a choice in the matter I’m not sure,” Australia skipper Steve Smith said.
“He was a little bit sore. He said it didn’t get any worse when he was bowling.
“That’s something we have to sum up. We’ve wrapped the series up here.
“We’d love to win 5-0 and have the big three (Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood) going all the time.
“But we’ve also got an important tour to South Africa after this series, which we’d love to have him available for.
“There’s a few things for us to sum up. We’ll see how he pulls up over the next couple of days. I’m sure that will determine which way we’ll go.”
The superior pace of Starc, Hazlewood, and Cummins compared to their England counterparts has played a key role in Australia’s success this series.
That difference was even more evident on a flat WACA wicket that England’s pacemen struggled on.
Both Cummins and Starc have been ravaged by injuries throughout their careers.
Smith said having them both on the park alongside Hazlewood was a huge weapon but one which took a toll on the quicks.
“I guess the force that goes through their bodies bowling at 145km/h plus, it must take a lot out of you,” Smith said.
“I was tired after bowling a couple of overs here the other day, and I didn’t have any force going through the body.
“I’ve got a new-found respect for the bowlers. The work they do off the park, the weights, the rehab, the fitness, everything they do to get themselves right to play Test match cricket and bowl at that pace consistently is an incredible effort.”
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