Australia pace spearhead rated a 50-50 chance for Boxing Day spectacle as he battles injury
Starc touch-and-go for Boxing Day
Mitchell Starc will be given time to prove his fitness for the Boxing Day Test, but pace partner Pat Cummins has warned the left-armer's foot injury could lead to a long stint on the sidelines if not treated properly.
Cummins rated Starc a "50-50" chance of overcoming a bruised heel to play in the fourth Magellan Ashes Test, but selectors have already indicated they will take a cautious approach given the urn has already been won.
Cummins, who suffered a similar foot injury immediately following his Test debut in 2011 and was out of action for more than four months, said his state teammate was keen to play what would be just his second Boxing Day Test.
But with a crucial four-Test tour of South Africa in the new year, the Australians will be reluctant to risk their strike bowler when already 3-0 up.
"It's a funny kind of injury," Cummins said on Saturday. "It's not super common, but if it's not treated well it can drag on for a very long time.
"It's a bruise pretty much where you've got to walk all day and bowl.
"I'm sure they'll come to an agreement and if he knows he's not right, he'll put his hand up.
"I chatted to him about it. I had a similar one on my Test debut and it's one of those ones where there's no way around it. You can't strap it differently, you can't bowl off the other foot or anything. It's hard to hide.
"So (you have to) try and get it early enough and not try and really, really damage it. It can be a long process trying to get it right.
"He knows that, the staff know that and I'm sure they'll work it out."
Starc, sporting a large compression sock on his right ankle, didn't participate in Australia's training session on Saturday.
He spoke with coach Darren Lehmann and selector Greg Chappell in the middle of the MCG, and also spoke with team doctor Richard Saw and physio David Beakley.
Should Starc be ruled out, Jackson Bird will likely come in for his first Test since last year's Boxing Day Test, having spent the past 12 months with the squad but not in the playing XI.
With the urn regained, Cummins said ensuring Starc is fit for their next Test assignment against the Proteas will be front of mind for Australia's brain's trust.
"I'd say that's certainly the thinking of a lot of people; the selectors, the skipper and everyone around him," Cummins said of the South African tour.
"He's doing everything he can to get right. He's been on crutches the past few days to try and take some weight off his heel.
"He hasn't tried to bowl yet ... I think in the next couple of days we'll assess that.
"He's absolutely itching to get out there and play, but you've got to make sure he's right and can get through the Test."
Bird, who toured India and Bangladesh this year and was part of the squad for the first three Ashes Tests, said he was ready to play should Starc be ruled out.
"I hope for Mitch's sake his heel's not too serious and he does get up," Bird said.
"But it'd be unbelievable to play an Ashes Test on Boxing Day. Either way I'll be ready."
2017-18 International Fixtures
Magellan Ashes Series
Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.
England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.
First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard
Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard
Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard
Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets
Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets
Gillette ODI Series v England
First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets
Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets
Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets
Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets
Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets
Prime Minister's XI
PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets
Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series
First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets
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Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21