Carey backs pacer Starc to win fitness race ahead of final Test

Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey has backed Mitchell Starc to be ready for the decisive fifth and final Test of the series against India when it starts in Sydney on Friday despite doubts over the fast bowler’s fitness.

Starc was sent for back scans after clutching his ribs and side in the latter stages of Australia’s thrilling 184-run victory in the fourth Test in Melbourne, which earned Pat Cummins’ side a 2-1 series lead.

“He’ll be fine, he’ll push through,” Carey said. “I have played with Starcy for a long time now and he is one of the toughest cricketers I have played with.

“So he’ll grimace, he’ll grab his rib, no doubt, but he’ll be ready for the contest.”

Despite seeing Starc claim only one wicket during the fourth Test, the vital scalp of Virat Kolhi during India’s second innings run chase, Carey was impressed with the 34-year-old’s performance at the MCG.

“I thought that first spell (on the last day in Melbourne) without the reward was, you know, some of the best bowling I’ve seen this series from him,” he said.

“He’s got an opportunity now to help this team in a Test match. He’ll be up for the contest. And I think his bowling just got better throughout the series.”

The win in Melbourne means the Australians can claim the series, and with it the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with a draw in Sydney.

Carey stressed, however, that he and his team mates would be pushing for another victory to seal the series in style.

“To go into this last game 2-1 up is great for the group but it’s another opportunity to win a Test match,” he said.

“We always play to win the game and then work backwards from there.

“(We’re in) a good position but I think this group’s really keen to come here, put our good foot forward from day one and see what happens.”

Meanwhile, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has lauded the Cummins-led side for executing their “disciplined plans” of dismissing the talismanic Kohli in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

Despite making an unbeaten century in the second innings during India’s 295-run win in Perth, Kohli hasn’t done anything substantial, as seen from his scores of 7, 11, 3, 36 and 5 in the next five innings in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne. What’s been more worrying is, all six of Kohli’s dismissals in the current series have been to chasing balls outside the off stump.

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“I think Australia bowled well with a disciplined plan, and they have executed it. I think Virat’s the type of player, though, in any format, he really thrives on with bat on ball, and that gives him confidence. He wants to hit the ball. He’s never been a big leaver, and there’s always been that error outside off stump that a lot of teams have targeted, because he’s such a good player.

“You get too straight, and he scores runs for fun on that leg side. So the Aussies have executed very well. Virat’s found it hard not to push at that delivery. I think there’s been different forms of nicking outside off - sometimes back foot, sometimes front foot. I think Starc provides a great weapon, that left arm across, and I think Pat Cummins has used him very well. But Virat will be disappointed.

“He got 100 in the second innings of the first Test, and he looks in good form, even in the first innings, before that run out. I thought he was really disciplined and made Australia come to him. That run out happened, and then lapse in concentration. So I want to give credit to the Aussie bowlers. But I think Virat will be disappointed because I think he’s in good nick,” said Clarke on ESPN’s Around The Wicket show.

In Melbourne, Kohli was also fined 20 per cent of his match fee and given a demerit point for his shoulder collision with debutant Sam Konstas on day one’s play.

Former Australia white-ball skipper Aaron Finch believes Kohli is just picking up fights on his own in this series.

“I think Virat’s always someone who’s thrived on pressure, and he’s thrived when his back’s against the wall and it just feels at this stage he’s trying to put his own back against the wall. He’s trying to be antagonistic.

“He’s trying to almost trying to pick a fight because that’s when he plays at his best, when he feels that someone’s coming at him.”

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