SYDNEY: Fast bowler Mitchell Starc has had an operation on his left leg after a freak training ground accident, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old hit his left shin on a piece of equipment during a training drill in Sydney and required 30 stitches.

Starc was rested from Australia’s one-day international tour of South Africa, which begins later this month, but CA remains ‘hopeful’ he will regain fitness before they host the Proteas in November at the start of a heavy home schedule.

“Mitchell was taken to St George hospital in an ambulance this afternoon suffering a deep laceration to his left shin after colliding with some training equipment,” CA chief medical officer John Orchard said.

“Fortunately there were no bone fractures or tendon damage to his leg and he underwent surgery this afternoon to clean the wound and received approximately 30 stitches.”

Starc’s injury added to Australia woes after top-order batsman Shaun Marsh broke his finger on Australia’s recent tour of Sri Lanka, while all-rounder James Faulkner suffered a calf injury at training on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2016