Mitchell Starc, Australia's fast bowler, has confirmed that he will miss the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India due to a finger injury. The injury occurred during the second Test against South Africa last year, and he missed the third Test against the Proteas.

When asked for an injury update during the Australian Cricket Awards, Starc, 33, said: "I am track..still a couple of weeks and then probably meet the guys in Delhi..after..hopefully, a first Test match win..get myself into training over there." The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin on February 9 in Nagpur before moving to Delhi for the second Test, followed by Dharamsala for the third Test and Ahmedabad for the final (4th Test).

Starc remained upbeat about the upcoming Test tour of India, stating that there will be plenty of good cricket to watch over the next few months. "I guess you never really know what to expect from the conditions in India but we have a fair idea, that it is obviously going to turn.

You never know until the game begins or you choose which wicket to play on. As a result, it will be a significant challenge "On the sidelines of the Australia Cricket Awards, Starc told Erin Holland. "The team is in the best possible shape to embark on an Indian tour.

It's exciting because the women are going to the World Cup and we have a long tour of India ahead of us. So there'll be plenty of good cricket to watch over the next few months, so we're just hoping Australia has a good run."