Mitchell Starc underwent back scans after battling pain in his torso during the historic Boxing Day test fight.
Starc is a “good chance” to back up the SCG decider but Australia will wait to see how the star quickly recovers from an epic Boxing Day test.
After completing an impressive win at MCG against India at the end of day five, Australia have just three days off before the fifth and final Test begins in Sydney.
Australia will regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15 if they win or draw the New Year’s Test.
An India win and a series tied 2-2 would allow the tourists to retain the trophy, emerging with the spoils for a record fifth consecutive time.
Starc battled with rib pain in Melbourne after day three but bravely soldiered on and took the crucial wicket of veteran star Virat Kohli to make Monday lunch.
Mitchell Starc has been sent for scans on his back after battling pain during the epic Boxing Day test.
The quick Australian could be seen grimacing in pain throughout the match.
news corporation reported Wednesday that Starc had been sent for tests and that the results would be critical in determining whether he will play.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald hailed the bowling performance during India’s second innings as the best moment of this group.
“Anytime you get through the game, it’s always a good indicator that you have a chance for the next game,” McDonald said of Starc.
‘That didn’t stop him. There was clearly a bit of discomfort at the beginning of the spells, but once he warmed up he seemed to be quite free.
‘The morning session there, the 20-plus overs we played (on Monday), is probably as good as we’ve played.
“If that’s any indicator, ‘Starcy’ was a part of that, and as a collective he was relentless and really gave us a chance to control the game.”
But if the New South Wales veteran cannot play at home after bowling 41 overs in Melbourne, Australia will be hoping Jhye Richardson, or even the uncapped Sean Abbott, can step up.
Richardson bagged five wickets in the last of his three Tests in 2021, but the Western Australian quick has battled several injuries during his career.
The results of the scans will be fundamental in deciding whether he will play at the SCG
Australia coach Andrew McDonald believes Starc has a “good” chance of playing
“He (Richardson) had a tough week with us in the nets, all indications are that he would be able to bowl 40-plus overs if called upon,” McDonald said.
All-rounder Mitch Marsh has endured a tough series with the bat, making just 73 runs at 10.42.
Marsh dealt with back pain in Perth which affected his bowling and has not taken a wicket since in a combined 16 overs in three Tests.
All-rounder Beau Webster is in the team and patiently awaiting his debut.
But it would be a big decision to effectively end the Test career of Marsh, a popular member of the team and the reigning Allan Border Medalist, with the series on the line.
“I think people have probably made too much of it (back pain),” McDonald said of Marsh.
“We haven’t needed him on the ball as often as we would have thought.
“To understand that from that angle is a little unfair, we just haven’t required it at certain times for some reason.”
It will be the first time a Test series in Australia heads to the regular SCG final with a trophy at stake since India toured here in 2003-04.
Declaring it equal to last year’s Edgbaston Ashes match as the best Test win he has been involved in, captain Pat Cummins told his teammates to enjoy the 184-run victory at the MCG first.
If Australia can lift the trophy in Sydney, it would be the first time since the 1997 Ashes that they have recovered from a 0-1 deficit to win a Test series.
It would mark a dramatic turnaround after India embarrassed them in Perth to kick off this successful five-Test battle.
A win at the SCG would book Australia’s place in a second successive World Test Championship final, after beating India in the 2023 decider.
South Africa became the first team to qualify for the WTC final at Lord’s next year, winning a dramatic home match against Pakistan on Sunday.
India are dealing with their own selection headaches after dropping No.3 Shubman Gill and fielding out-of-form captain Rohit Sharma again in the open, for returns of three and nine.