Australian head coach hints two big changes for Sydney Test after MCG win, gives stunning update on Mitchell Starc injury

Andrew McDonald hints on possible changes

In general, winning teams dislike switching up their starting lineup, but Australia has a lot of selection issues to deal with. With Marsh's most recent scores of 9, 5, 2, 4, 0 for a series return of 73 runs at 10.4, the primary question is whether to keep him at No. 6. After strong performances at the Sheffield Shield level, Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster is in Australia's team and ready to go if awarded a baggy green. Along with Garry Sobers, he is the only player in Sheffield Shield history to score over 900 runs and claim 30 wickets in a season.

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"He’s in a good [head] space. Would you like better performances? There’s no doubt about that. Over four Test matches, he hasn’t been able to deliver at the level he would like and we would like. He’s up and about though. We just won a Test match," McDonald said of Marsh.

McDonald downplayed recommendations. Given his bowling loads, Marsh was not quite fit. Marsh has bowled 33 overs in four Test matches, taking 3-139, although Australia would rather utilize other fast bowlers. In Sydney, a stadium that has historically favoured batters in recent years, Australia is eager to have a fifth bowling option.

"[The bowlers] are in pretty good shape and the assumptions are they recover from this one. Does that mean you need a fifth bowler? I think you still need a fifth bowler. But are you going to put a huge demand on a fifth bowler? Potentially not," McDonald said.

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Update on Starc

According to a team spokesperson, Starc was evasive about his injuries following the game, and no formal diagnosis has been made. The more Starc immersed himself in his spells, the better the overall discomfort seemed to get. Australia's primary training session is typically held two days prior to a Test, which is Wednesday in this instance. However, because to the short travel time from Melbourne to Sydney, Starc may take it easy in the nets. It may not be until Thursday or the morning of the first day that a decision regarding his fitness is made.

"Clearly Starc is carrying something of some description. Other than that it looks as though we got through pretty unscathed. Any time you get through the game, it’s always a good indicator that you’re a chance at the next game. It didn’t stop him. Clearly, there was a little bit of discomfort early on in spells, but once he got warm, you saw he was pretty free. We’ll see how everyone recovers tomorrow. I think the amount of overs that we have bowled in the series is probably going to be to a benefit to us," McDonald said.

Abbott and Richardson are on standby for Australia in case Starc is cleared to participate. Richardson, who has only participated in two Sheffield Shield games since October 2022, will rejoin the team on Wednesday after being cut from the Test squad to play Big Bash in Adelaide on Tuesday. Richardson has only participated in one game (four wickets at 21.25), whereas Abbott has taken 13 wickets for NSW in the Sheffield Shield this season at a rate of 19.84.