Mitchell Starc is set to return for the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney, starting Thursday (January 4). Starc had to miss the Perth Test because of a bruised heel but Steve Smith confirmed the pacer has recovered really well.
Starc will replace Jackson Bird. "Starcy has pulled up pretty well this morning and he says he's ready to go. I guess that's a good indication," Smith said on the eve of the Test. "(I've told him to) make sure you are completely fit and we don't want you to be doing further damage.
"We've got some ODIs and T20Is after this and the important series in South Africa. We've wrapped up the series which is great. We want to continue winning and that's important for us but he's a key member and we don't want him to do further damage because we'll need him in South Africa.
"The break he's had from bowling has helped his heel heal. It's coming on nicely. He's confident and you have to take the player's word sometimes."
Australia have also decided to go in with three pacers and one spinner despite the history showing that the SCG track will help the spinners as the game progresses. That also means Ashton Agar will have to wait and won't be bowling alongside Nathan Lyon.
"The wicket's got a fair bit of grass and looks to be a pretty good wicket," Smith said. "I'd say we'll probably opt for just the one spinner. Nathan's done a terrific job throughout this series and I'd say we'll go down that route."
Smith too has been battling niggles but clarified he'll be playing the final Test. While sore hands troubled him ahead of the Perth Test, he's had a sore back leading up to the final Test. Smith has had a huge impact on the series with 604 runs in six innings at an average of 151.
"A little bit stiff but nothing I haven't dealt with before," he said. "I'll have a good hit today, a catch, and I'll be fine tomorrow.
"It's been nice, I'm batting well, I'm feeling really good at the crease. For me, it's just ensuring I don't get too far ahead of myself. If you walk out there and expect you're going to get runs the game can bite you pretty quickly. It's just ensuring I'm hungry each time I go to the middle, start really well, do my basics really well, have my routines that I go through and don't get too far ahead of myself because it comes back to bite you pretty quickly when you do that.
"The guys are really motivated to come out here. The Sydney Test, the pink Test match in its 10th anniversary now, it's a special occasion, particularly for all of the guys from NSW, there's quite a few in the line-up. We don't get the opportunity to play as often as we like in Shield cricket. Every opportunity we get to play on this ground is special. It's another Ashes Test match, guys don't need more motivation. It's a great opportunity to try and win this Test match and win this series 4-0."
