Mitchell Starc will miss the Boxing Day Ashes Test in Melbourne because of his bruised heel, Cricket Australia has confirmed.

Jackson Bird will replace the he series’ leading wicket-taker for the fourth Test against England, after the news was announced before practice at the MCG on Sunday morning local time.

Starc was described the previous day by his fellow Australia pace bowler Pat Cummins as having only a “50/50” chance of taking part in the fourth Test.

The left-armer, who has taken 19 wickets in three matches so far and been a driving force in Australia’s surge into a series-sealing 3-0 lead, has spent much of the past week on crutches to try to speed up his recovery.

Despite being injured, Starc took exception to Jimmy Anderson’s comments on Thursday over Australia’s strength in depth. Anderson had said “they’ve had three bowlers who all can bowl 90mph and they’ve stayed fit for three games, but you look beyond that and they’ve got problems”.

Starc replied that England have “got plenty more to worry about than the depth of Australia fast bowling” and that he “hopes [Bird] takes five for and sticks it up this daft comment from the Poms.”

Starc has an unhappy habit of missing Boxing Day Tests, although he played a starring role 12 months ago against Pakistan as Australia earned an innings victory in Melbourne.

Injuries or form have often counted him out, and fellow Australia quick Josh Hazlewood indicated it was no laughing matter. “We were joking around, but it’s still a bit off limits, those jokes about Boxing Day,” Hazlewood said, according to Cricket Australia’s website. “He’s obviously been unlucky.”