After Starc’s sizzling spell, batters ensure Day 1 belonged to Australia in Adelaide
The opening day of the Pink Ball Test at the Adelaide Oval was all about Australia, and their continued dominance in day-night Tests at home.
Australia have been dealt a massive injury blow with pace spearhead Mitchell Starc ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing India vs Australia Series with a fractured foot.
“Mitchell experienced some pain in his right foot during the second Test in Bengaluru which unfortunately had not subsided a few days after the Test as we had hoped,” said team physiotherapist David Beakley. “We made the decision to scan his foot in Bangalore this morning and unfortunately it has revealed a stress fracture.
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“Subsequently, this means Mitchell will be unavailable for the remainder of the Qantas Tour of India and will return home to Australia to start his rehabilitation.” No replacement has been announced for Starc, with Jackson Bird the reserve fast bowler who is likely to be brought into the fold.
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The loss of Starc is disastrous for Australia who sit level with India at 1-1 after two Tests in the four-match series.
The 27-year-old pacer played a crucial role in Australia’s first Test win in the subcontinent since 2004 when the visitors stunned India to claim the first Test by a massive 333 runs. Starc’s quick-fire 61 lifted Australia to a dominant first-innings total of 260 before he silenced the cricket-crazy nation by dismissing India captain Virat Kohli for a second-ball duck on day two. He, along with Josh Hazlewood, had brought the Indian team’s second innings to an abrupt halt in the second Test at Bengaluru with a brilliant spell of pace bowling.
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