Mitchell Starc hospitalised after fielding mishap

Australian speedster Mitchell Starc sustained a cut to his leg during training in Sydney today and has been admitted to St. Georges Hospital. He injured himself while diving forward to field a ball while participating in a training drill at the Hurstville Oval in Sydney.

The lanky fast bowler landed awkwardly with his left knee badly hitting a piece of training equipment near a pop-up net. The players at training called for medical support immediately and Starc laid down on his back grimacing in pain and discomfort.

The 26-year-old quickie immediately received the treatment of CA’s Bupa Support Team Medical Staff, with two doctors and physios giving assistance. The injury was deemed serious enough by the medical staff to call an ambulance.

After further treatment from the NSW Ambulance paramedic, Starc was moved out of the ground in a stretcher. Starc an other leading Australian players gathered in Sydney for a series of fitness tests and pre-season briefings.

Starc has already been ruled out of Australia’s next assignment, an ODI tour of South Africa. The Commonwealth Bank Test series in Australia against the Proteas will commence in 49 days time at the WACA Ground, Perth.

Starc was the standout performer for Australia in the tour of Sri Lanka, both in Tests and the limited overs format. He picked 24 wickets in 3 Tests at an average of 15.

In an otherwise disappointing series where Australia was drubbed 3-0, Starc’s performance was the only bright spot. He followed it up with another brilliant performance in the ODI series becoming the fastest bowler in ODI history to scalp 100 ODI wickets breaking an 18-year-old record set by spin wizard Saqlain Mushtaq.

Starc and Josh Hazlewood have been given a month’s break after the Sri Lanka series, to give themselves proper rest and allow them to prepare for the eagerly anticipated home Test series against the Proteas.

In the coming months, Australia will play a 3-test series against South Africa followed by Pakistan in their own backyard. They will also play home and away ODI competitions against New Zealand and a five-match ODI series against Pakistan and a 3 match T20 series against the Sri Lankans.

Australia will then return to Asia for an eagerly awaited Test series against the Indians. The Australians suffered a humiliating 4-0 whitewash at the hands of India last time around and it won't be a surprise if we see a repeat of that, going by Australia’s form in the subcontinental conditions.