Injured Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc has indicated he will most certainly miss the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against India at Nagpur from February 9, saying he should be available from the second Test onwards.

Starc suffered an injury on the opening day of the Boxing day Test against South Africa, hurting the finger of his bowling arm while attempting a catch. The 32-year-old Starc was diagnosed with a detached tendon in the middle finger and missed the third and final Test against the Proteas.

“That’s probably likely (I will miss the first Test). We’ll see how we’re placed at the end of the month,” Starc was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press on Monday. “Hopefully I am there for the second Test if they want to play me. We’ll see how the finger is.”

With all-rounder Cameron Green also not a certainty for the opening Test due to a fractured finger he suffered during the MCG game after being hit by an Anrich Nortje bouncer, Australia are left short of pace bowling back-up.

However, Josh Hazlewood will most likely play the Nagpur game — his second Testin Asia since 2017. Hazlewood was in fine form during the third Test against the Proteas in Sydney.

Last year’s Ashes hero Scott Boland too could be in contention for a possible third pacer’s slot with Green too doubtful. But Test captain PatCummins said there would be no pressure to include three quicks, as Travis Head is a new option with his handy off-spin and partner lead spinner Nathan Lyon. “Overthere (India), you pick two spinners. You think it is going to be quite a spinning wicket,” Cummins said.