Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has been cleared of a major foot injury, but remains in doubt for the Boxing Day Test, reports said Wednesday. Scans confirmed he only has a bruised heel after he was seen hobbling on crutches as he left Perth after Australia claimed the Ashes by beating England by an innings and 41 runs in the third Test this week. The injury was assessed in Sydney on Wednesday and the paceman was "cleared of serious injury", cricket.com.au said, adding that he would link up with Australia's 13-man squad later this week in Melbourne. But local reports said Starc still remained a doubt to play, with Jackson Bird likely to replace him should he fail to recover.

Mitchell Starc