Australia ‘hopeful’ over Starc fitness

Australia are optimistic fast bowler Mitchell Starc will be fit to face England in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s starting on Thursday.

The left-arm paceman suffered a right ankle injury during the series opener in Cardiff and needed pain-killing injections to finish the game, which England won by 169 runs.

With just four days until the second Test gets underway, concerns had been voiced as to whether <g data-gr-id="9">Starc</g>, who was Australia’s leading bowler at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens with seven wickets in 40.1 overs, would have sufficient time in which to recover.