Starc undergoes surgery after training mishap

Mitchell Starc has undergone surgery and required 30 stitches after gashing his leg in a training mishap in Sydney today.

Cricket Australia remains 'hopeful' he will be fit for the start of the Australian summer.

Starc was participating in a training drill at Hurstville Oval in Sydney's south when he dived forward to field a ball.

The fast-bowling spearhead landed awkwardly, hitting the upper part of his left shin on a piece of training equipment.

“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,” Cricket Australia 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.

“He will remain in hospital for the next few days to minimise movement to his leg and will use an extension brace for the next 2-3 weeks until his stitches are removed. 

“At this stage, barring any complications, we are hopeful he is on track to play at the start of the Australian summer.”

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That news will be a welcome relief to his Australian teammates, who had gathered around Starc calling for medical support after the incident.

Two doctors and physios from CA's Bupa Support Team treated Starc on the scene.

Australia’s leading players have assembled in Sydney this week for a series of fitness tests and pre-season briefings.

Starc had already been rested from duty for Australia's next assignment, a one-day international tour of South Africa.

The Commonwealth Bank Test Series against South Africa starts in 49 days at the WACA Ground.

James Faulkner and Shaun Marsh were also ruled out of the Qantas Tour of South Africa today.

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Faulkner sustained a calf injury while the Australians trained on Thursday, while Marsh has failed to recover from the broken finger that saw him sent home from Sri Lanka during the limited-overs series last month.

Queensland batsman Usman Khawaja has been drafted in a cover for Marsh, while no replacement was named for the Tasmanian.