Australia will be sweating on the fitness of Mitchell Starc after the National Selection Panel named an unchanged 13-man squad on Monday for the fourth Magellan Ashes Test at the MCG.
It was revealed on the same day that Starc has a bruised heel on his front right landing foot.
As the reserve fast bowler in the squad, Jackson Bird would be the likely replacement should Starc be unable to play.
After scoring his maiden Test century – a colossal 181 – in Perth, Mitchell Marsh looks set to retain his place in the XI and keep hometown favourite Peter Handscomb on the sidelines.
In the past 20 years there’s only been one drawn Test at the MCG – against India in 2014 – but each of the three JLT Sheffield Shield matches in the Victorian capital this summer have ended in draws on pitches that have favoured batting.
