Mitchell Starc expected to be fit for MCG but Josh Hazlewood still a doubt

Starc complained of a twinge in his ribcage area while batting during the second Test at the Adelaide Oval

Mitchell Starc is set to be available for selection for Australia for the third Ashes Test despite a niggling injury.

Starc complained of a twinge in his ribcage area while batting during the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.

He managed to bowl 27 overs in the fourth innings of the match, however, as England were defeated by 275 runs, and his preparation for the next game - due to begin on Boxing Day at the MCG - has not been affected.

"It's just [his] rib actually," head coach Justin Langer said. "A lot of the bowlers talk about when they come back to Test cricket, bowl more overs, they jam down on that rib area so he should be fine. He's tough.

^{Mitchell Starc is expected to be fit to face England at the MCG (Daniel Kalinsz/Getty Images)}

"If he's not right, then we'll look at it. But at this stage, there's no indication he won't be playing the next Test.

"There's been a lot of talk about Mitch Starc for the last few years but he just keeps turning up. He's an unbelievable athlete. He's incredibly fit.

"His resilience to just keep coming up over and over and over again is remarkable really, and his consistency of length and the way he controlled the tempo of the game last game was a great credit to him, particularly with Patty and Josh Hazlewood not playing.

"He became the leader of the group. He did a fantastic job. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't get up for Boxing Day."

There is more concern over Hazlewood, who missed the Adelaide game with a side strain.

He was due to return to the Australia camp on Thursday and will be assessed by the team's medical department before a decision is made about his inclusion at Melbourne.

Hazlewood's absence was not horribly felt at the Adelaide Oval, as Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser came into the team - with captain Pat Cummins also having been ruled out after being a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case - and performed well.

^{Australia head coach Justin Langer}

However, he is clearly one part of Australia's premier three-pronged attack.

A further option for the Aussies is Scott Boland, who trained with the group in Adelaide and has since been formally added to the third-Test squad.

"It's more precautionary than anything else," Langer said of Boland's inclusion.

"That said he's a terrific bowler and he's had an awesome domestic couple of years. If he gets the opportunity like Michael Neser last game, he will certainly deserve that."

Australia will retain the Ashes by avoiding defeat at the MCG.

"It's a tough series, we all know that," Langer said.

"So we'll just manage our bowlers as best we can and we'll put our fittest and most ready to perform out in the park in Melbourne."

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