Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey believes pace spearhead Mitchell Starc will “push through” the pain of a rib injury to play the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series here beginning on Friday. The 34-year-old left-hand quick’s fitness remains the primary worry for the hosts after he battled through sore ribs from day three of the Boxing Day Test but still managed to bowl effectively with help from the team’s physios. “He’ll be fine. He will push through,” Carey told the media on Wednesday.

The Australian selectors will likely take a call on Starc’s fitness closer to the Test but Carey said he had no concerns whatsoever about his teammate’s fitness.

“I’ve played with Starcy (Mitchell Starc) for a long time now and he is one of the toughest cricketers that I’ve played with. He’ll grimace and grab his rib without a doubt at times but he’ll be ready for the contest.” A victory or a draw in the fifth Test here is paramount for the hosts as it will help them regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15.

However, if India win the game, they will retain the trophy, winning the series for a record-extending fifth straight time.

If Starc were to be rested, fellow pacer Jhye Richardson would likely be called in as his replacement.

The 28-year-old last played a Test in December 2021, taking five second-innings wickets in the pink-ball Ashes clash against England at the Adelaide Oval.

Asked about the prospect of getting a call-up, Richardson told ‘cricket.com.au’ that he was not thinking too much about the selection.

“It’s hard to think about that (prospect of playing the next Test). You can’t spend too much energy wondering about what’s going to happen with selections.

“(I’m) trying to not think about it too much but if the opportunity arises, I’ll do my best to grab it.”

Akash Deep apologised to Travis Head following a bizarre exchange on Day 5 of the third Test match between India and Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday. Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah looked quite confident at the start of the day’s play and the former looked to play some aggressive shots against Nathan Lyon. While going for a slog sweep, Akash Deep missed the ball completely and it got stuck inside his pads. He quickly took it away and threw it on the ground. The Indian cricketer did not notice that Travis Head thought he will hand him the ball and that led to a chat with the Australian batter.

However, the situation did not turn ugly as Akash Deep apologised and the game moved on.

Travis Head ultimately ended up dismissing Akash Deep and ending the Indian innings.

Play on day five of the third Test between India and Australia was halted due to lightening around the Gabba after the visitors were bowled out for 260.

Don’t think Travis Head loved that#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/XzR6kIJZu5

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2024

Australia made 445 in their first innings.

The match has been impacted by multiple delays over the course of five days.

Resuming the day at 252 for nine, India added eight runs in 24 balls.

Jasprit Bumrah (10 not out off 38) and Akash Deep (31 off 44), who helped India avoid the follow-on on day four, shared 47 runs off 78 balls for the final wicket.

Australia gained an 185-run first innings lead after Akash Deep was stumped off Travis Head in the 79th over.

(With PTI inputs)

England vs Australia 3rd ODI, Live Updates: England will be facing Australia in the third ODI of the five-match series on Tuesday in Chester-le-Street. Currently, Australia have taken 2-0 lead over England and will aim to seal the series with a win in this match. In the 2nd ODI, the world champions were in trouble at 221-9 after losing the toss. But Alex Carey made a dashing 74, with the wicketkeeper dominating a last-wicket stand of 49 with Josh Hazlewood that took Australia to 270 all out. That proved more than enough as a new-look England, who collapsed to 65-5, were dismissed for 202. (Live Scorecard)