Plenty of eyebrows were raised at Adelaide Oval, on social media and in the commentary box when the seventh wicket fell during Australia's dramatic second-innings run-chase in the historic day-night Test and Starc hobbled out of the dressing room.

The left-arm paceman, who batted at No.11 in the first innings because of his foot injury, joined Peter Siddle in the middle after keeper Peter Nevill fell to a spectacular catch by BJ Watling.

Starc was unable to run properly between the wickets and was seen wearing crutches soon after the Australians scraped through to win by three wickets.

With fellow tailenders Nathan Lyon, who made a crucial 34 in the first dig, and Josh Hazlewood, who is no mug with the bat, watching on from the sheds, Channel Nine commentator Michael Slater asked: "Why is Starc out there ahead of Hazlewood and Lyon? Have they left the ground or something?"

Fellow commentator Michael Hussey also expressed his surprise that Starc was given the assignment of finishing the job.

Siddle was unable to hit a boundary but after forcing a shot through point, he and a limping Starc scampered up and down the pitch for the winning runs.

The Australians received plenty of criticism earlier in the match when they used the team's masseuse Grant Baldwin as a substitute fielder for Starc instead of a contracted state player or grade cricketer, as is usually the case.

Smith said Starc was not risking further damage to his injury by batting. "The damage is done. He's a great team man and I was thankful for him to be able to go out there and have a crack," Smith said in the post-match press conference.

"He put his hand up, which is what he always does for the team. Unfortunately he hit one to the fielder, but he hobbled through for two off Peter Siddle's bat and it was nice to get those two runs to get us over the line."

Starc has been ruled out of the upcoming three-Test home series against the West Indies but is hopeful of touring New Zealand in February.

smh.com.au