‘It’s why we’ve got five-day Tests and really stick it up those who want four days!’ – Mitchell Starc | Cricket News

With Australia refusing to declare before Day 4 ended and their tail wagging for 55 runs for the 10th wicket, the MCG Test set itself up for an exciting Day 5, even as Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland continued to frustrate India. But Mitchell Starc speaking to ABC Cricket stressed this was exactly why Test matches needed to be 5 days long, as it built towards an enthralling contest.
“We’ve got 98 overs tomorrow. This why we’ve got five days for a Test match and really stick it up those who want four days!” Starc told ABC, even as an impatient restless cricket world has been brewing thoughts of making Tests into 4-day affairs. Suggestions are dime a dozen to truncate the longest format send cut it a day, but Starc was clearly no fan of this brainwave.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series has seen some exciting last sessions across venues from Adelaide to Brisbane, with drama pouring out in the last hour or over too.
There was a smite of a chance that India dawdled and let things drift in the last hour on Day 4, not risking a bat. But concerns are swelling in Australia over fitness of their bowling ace, Mitchell Starc, who received continuous treatment for his back problem, while he bowled in the first innings. The physio was stationed at the fine leg boundary, and Starc was even slow on a long shot attempt at a catch.
Mitchell Starc however would tell ABC he wasn’t stressed about what would be solid workload on Monday, Day 5: “It’s not something that is bothering me. My pace is up … If I need to bowl 20 (overs) tomorrow, I’ll bowl 20.”
When asked if Australia should’ve chanced a declaration and bought itself more time and overs to enforce a win, Starc said, “You’ll have to ask Pat Cummins… you’ll have to ask the brainstrust.”
Clearly, the Aussies reckoned there was something in the Melbourne pitch that could see Indians go after the total. At any rate, reports say MCG could witness over 40,000 trooping in on a Monday to watch the exciting final day, reiterating Starc contention that 5 days are worth spending over for a Test match.

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