Starc reveals graphic detail of leg injury

Injured paceman Mitchell Starc has recalled in graphic detail the training mishap that threatened to derail his summer.

But despite needing more than 30 stitches to a deep laceration to his left leg, the 26-year-old is aiming to be ready for NSW’s opening Sheffield Shield clash, starting on October 25 under lights at the Gabba, and is confident he'll be fit for the start of the international season.

Quick Single: Starc has surgery after training mishap

Starc sent shockwaves through the Australian camp two weeks ago when he collided with a piece of training equipment whilst attempting a catch during a fielding test at Sydney's Hurstville Oval.

The left-armer suffered two deep cuts just below his left knee and was rushed to nearby St George hospital where he went into surgery to repair the damage.

Speaking on cricket.com.au's The Unplayable Podcast, Starc re-lived the dramatic episode in full.

"Unfortunately it was a training accident that should have been avoided," he said.

"Accidents happen. We were doing a fielding test as part of our Australian camp before the boys left for the South African tour.

"We were doing high catching out of a ball machine. It was quite a windy day so I’ve gone after this ball to try and catch it and it was getting away from me and (I) slid to catch it.

"The next part of the drill – which was meant to happen later down the track – was throwing down stumps, (which were) set up behind us.

"I unfortunately slid into the metal plate at the base of the stumps.

"I caught the catch so I’m happy about that, but in the process took some large chunks out of my leg and needed about 30-35 stitches."

Thankfully Starc was cleared of any structural damage to his knee and was released from hospital four days later with a restrictive leg brace around the injured limb.

"I knew I’d hit the metal plate because it was quite sore, so I thought I might have a bit of a cut there and it's only sore because the bone has hit the metal," he continued.

"I looked down and there’s a big hole in the pants, (I) saw a flap of skin and threw my hand on it to try and stop anything that was going on. I couldn’t see much.

"Then the pain started to get a lot stronger and kept hitting me and I thought something might be a bit worse.

"The doctors came over and I couldn’t watch from there.

"I didn’t quite know the extent until I was in the back of the ambulance when the doctor was explaining how bad it was.

"You (could) see a couple of bones. I didn’t want to look at it at all. They numbed it pretty quickly so I couldn’t feel too much."

Starc says his recovery is on track although he wishes it would be "a bit quicker".

Image Id: F573AC0F7AD34E61815BBE45D03606CB Image Caption: Mitchell Starc clutches his leg // cricket.com.au

"The knee is fine, which is the biggest positive," he said.

"I didn’t really think I did anything bad to my knee. It wasn’t until the doc started talking about what could have happened and what might be an issue (that I started to worry) and I had to have an x-ray.

"When they were cleaning up the wound the nurse actually said 'There’s your patella tendon, there’s no nicks in it'. The fact that he could see my patella tendon was a bit of an issue.

"I'm glad that’s all fine. It’s a weird feeling being in a knee brace not being able to bend my leg knowing that my knee is OK. It’s just to keep the flaps of skin on there to heal properly.

"It’s quite frustrating but I can still get around a little but, (I) get back in the gym today (Wednesday), finally get back into some work."

Australia will be desperate to have Starc in their starting XI for the first Test against South Africa at the WACA Ground, starting November 3.

The left-armer was Australia’s leading bowler on the recent Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, capturing 24 wickets in 15.16 runs apiece in the 3-0 Test series defeat.

That stunning campaign catapulted Starc into the ICC's top 10 of the world's best Test bowlers, and the speedster is aiming to continue his prolific form in the five-day game in Perth.

"For me, the goal is still the first Shield game,” Starc said when asked when he expected to be back.

"I want to play that one, and being a pink ball game at the Gabba it’s going to be new for the NSW team and for me as well.

"That’s still my goal, to be right for that Shield game and obviously we’ve got to factor in some workloads when I’m back bowling first and foremost.

"If that’s out of the picture the next one is being right for the preparation for the first Test and making sure I don’t miss any games for Australia."