Mitchell Starc to miss remainder of Test series due to stress fracture

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been sent home after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot.

Australia's Mitchell Starc will miss the remaining two Test matches.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been sent home after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot.

“Mitchell experienced some pain in his right foot during the second Test in Bangalore 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.” he added.

“Subsequently, this means Mitchell will be unavailable for the remainder of the series and will return home to Australia to start his rehabilitation.”

Starc is the second player to be ruled out of the series after Mitchell Marsh, who too was sent home due to an injury.

This will make Australia’s task of retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy even more difficult. Starc had batted well in the series, and scored crucial runs (61 in first innings) in the first Test match in Pune to help Australia register a win.

His bowling performances had not been upto the mark, but he was slowly finding his rhythm and took three wickets in the second Test, including two in two deliveries in the second innings.

No replacement has been named, meaning Jackson Bird is likely to play in the third Test scheduled to start from the 16th of March.