• Home
  • Who Said What
  • We Are Confident Mitchell Starc Can Assistant Coach Daniel Vettori Down Plays Injury Concerns

'We Are Confident Mitchell Starc Can...': Assistant Coach Daniel Vettori Down Plays Injury Concerns

image-lkc400rrStarc got injured on Day 2 of Old Trafford Test [AP Photo]

Day 2 of the ongoing fourth Ashes 2023 Test between hosts England and Australia, did not go as planned for the visitors, who bundled out for 317, and then were taken to the cleaners by English batters.

Opener Zak Crawley slammed a belligerent 189, while former Joe Root made a swift 84, which helped England take lead 67-run lead by the end of play on Day 2. 

However, Australia's issue did not end there, in-form pacer Mitchell Starc, who scalped wickets of Ben Duckett, and Moeen Ali, had shoulder injury concerns after landing awkwardly at mid-on, while attempting to stop a boundary.

 Speaking in the post-Day conference, assistant coach Daniel Vettori, reaffirmed that Starc's injury is not serious, and the bowler will be back on Day 3 in action for Australia.

Apart from the fall, Starc was also constantly seen in discomfort with his left leg. Starc did come back on the field after injuring his shoulder but went back again soon after doing his bowling warm-ups. 

As quoted by India Today, the former New Zealand skipper confirmed that Starc did not feel comfortable throwing the ball, and thus ejected himself out the field after captain Pat Cummins' advice.

Here's what Vettori said

"He's currently got some ice on it and we're pretty confident it will be right tomorrow. He's just one of those guys who doesn't like to spend too long off the park. He just wanted to get on the field as quickly as possible to see how it was. But he got straight into a hot spot and three balls in a row came to him in the field and he didn’t quite feel comfortable throwing it – I haven't actually spoken to him, but that's what it looked like.

I think he felt confident that he could bowl just from his warm-up balls. When he was put to the test (in the field) three balls in a row, he just didn't quite feel right throwing it in so that led to him jumping back off. I think the leg is good, no issues there. We're all pretty confident he can bounce back."

The 33-year-old bowled 15 overs, and picked up two important wickets while giving away 74 runs. Overall, in the ongoing series, Starc has claimed 15 wickets in three Tests.