Mitchell Strac ruled out of remaining Tests with fractured 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 Australian team physiotherapist David Beakley, reported Cricket.com.au.

He added, “We made the decision to scan his foot in Bangalore this morning and unfortunately it has revealed a stress fracture.

“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.”

Starc had been in good form- with bat and ball, helping Australia get out of trouble in the first Test in Pune by playing a 61-run knock. With the bat, he has contributed a total of 118 runs in the series while picking five important wickets at an average of 30.20. In a match, where spinners were dominant with the ball, he dismissed Indian batting mainstays- Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli on successive deliveries to give the visitors control over the Test.

In the second innings of the second Test in Bengaluru, Starc continued his rich vein of form as he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and Karun Nair in consecutive deliveries to bring Australia back into the game after a strong Pujara- Rahane partnership. 

Although no replacement has been named for Starc, Australia have 30-year-old Jackson Bird as the reserve fast bowler in their squad. Bird has represented Australia in 8 Test matches claiming 34 wickets with best bowling figures of 5/59 that came against arch-rivals New Zealand last year.