Mitchell Marsh not likely to bowl anymore at Brisbane; Hazlewood in doubt too

Mitchell Marsh

Brisbane, Dec 17 (IANS) Australian team physio Alex Kountouris has said that all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who limped off the field with a right hamstring injury just moments after lunch on day one of the second Test against India at the Gabba, is “unlikely” to bowl anymore in the match.

Mitchell grimaced and pulled up short in his follow-through, before he put his head in his hands and was comforted by brother Shaun. He then walked off the ground, with Cricket Australia (CA) confirming a short time later that the all-rounder had suffered "right hamstring soreness".

Kountouris, speaking after the match, confirmed that the all-rounder is unlikely to bowl again. He said: "Mitchell Marsh has got a mild hamstring strain, low grade strain, on the right leg. He's had surgery on the left leg a year ago and he also injured the right one about two years ago.

"He's unlikely he will bowl again (in the Test). He will have a scan and we will try to get him on the field tomorrow and hopefully have him batting in some way that's useful."

Marsh has had a history of problems with his left hamstring – including a surgery in 2012, but this injury is to his right hamstring.

The most recent of Marsh's left hamstring problems came during the Twenty20 Champions League in September, which delayed his start to Australia's tour of the United Arab Emirates.

He missed the 2013 Champions League with a hamstring problem suffered during Australia A's tour of South Africa, while his 2012-13 summer was hampered by a serious left hamstring injury he suffered while batting for Western Australia in the Ryobi Cup.

Starc expected to be fit, doubts over Hazlewood

Kountouris said Mitchell Starc's problems were back-related, but he was expected to bowl on Thursday's second day.

"His back was sore and he was getting some rib pain. It's not a side strain and we don't think it's anything that will stop him bowling. We think he's going to be okay to bowl tomorrow."

On Hazlewood, who was troubled by cramps in the scorching conditions in his debut Test, he said: He had cramps all over his body. The difficulty with him was that he was cramping everywhere.

"Both calves, both hamstrings, groin, hips, he couldn't just function and you could see his pace was down when he came back to bowl again. He will recover overnight and we'll see how he is in the morning."