Mitchell Starc has shrugged off injury concerns as he prepares for the “hard work” of trying to bowl out India a second time in the Boxing Day Test.

The Australian paceman needed physio attention during day three, but did not leave the field as Indian allrounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Sundar Washington fought back superbly.

Starc bowled 25 overs and went without a wicket as India posted 369 in reply to Australia’s first innings of 474.

The left armer was terse when quizzed before play on day four about his fitness.

“All good ... my pace didn’t drop. I’m ready to go today,” he told SEN.

Australia lost fellow front-line quick Josh Hazlewood during the Brisbane Test with a calf muscle injury and he is out for the Sydney Test as well.

Scott Boland took Hazlewood’s place for Melbourne, meaning all the front-line Australian bowlers are aged 30-plus.

Starc was asked about the challenge of being a key member of the attack through a five-Test series.

“I’m not sure anyone really understand it unless they’ve had to do it. It is what it is, it’s Test cricket, it’s a five-Test series, some close matches back-to-back, a few long days,” Starc said.

“Obviously we were a bowler down (in) the last Test and it’s probably more the MCG of old.

“It’s going to be hard work, these last two days, but that’s Test cricket and that’s what we’re here for.”

Starc expanded on his comment about the pitch, saying the Australians did not find it as bowler-friendly as recent Tests.

He added the pitch did not appear to be deteriorating.

“We thought it might do more with the new ball, which it probably hasn’t,” he said.

“They batted quite well in that partnership. We bowled some really, really good stuff with no reward, so good old-fashioned Test cricket - a bit like the MCG of old.

“They were pretty disciplined. We bowled some really, really, really good spells.

“The scoreboard didn’t really go anywhere and they absorbed the pressure and accumulated along the way. They didn’t play any false shots and put a nice partnership together.”

After some debate in the last few weeks about whether Tests should be shortened to four days, Starc is firmly in the camp that they should stay five-day battles.

“That’s why we love five-day cricket, things happen quick at the end,” he said.

“Some of my most memorable Test wins have been with 10 minutes to go on day five.”