Mitchell Starc gets 30 stitches after bizarre accident

Injured Shaun Marsh and James Faulkner out of Australia's ODI tour of South Africa

Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc. (AP)

 

 

MELBOURNE: Batsman Shaun Marsh and all-rounder James Faulkner will not play in Australia's one-day international tour of South Africa — Marsh has a fractured finger and Faulkner a calf injury.

Australia physiotherapist David Beakley said in a statement that Marsh's fracture was in a finger joint and that Faulkner sustained a low-grade calf strain during a training session in Sydney on Thursday.

Cricket Australia said Usman Khawaja will replace Marsh, while no replacement has been named for Faulkner.

Australia will play a one-off ODI against Ireland in Benoni, South Africa to open the tour on Sept. 27, followed by five one-day matches against South Africa, ending Oct. 12 in Cape Town.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Mitchell Starc needed 30 stitches in his left leg after a bizarre training accident on Thursday, but is expected to be fit for the first test in Australia against South Africa, beginning Nov. 3 in Perth.

Starc, who was on restricted duties after being ordered to rest from the one-day tour of South Africa, hurt himself during a fielding drill in Sydney. Teammates called for help after the paceman cut his leg on a stray piece of training equipment, and he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

"Fortunately there were no bone fractures or tendon damage to his leg," team doctor John Orchard said. "He will remain in hospital for the next few days to minimize movement to his leg. At this stage, barring any complications, we are hopeful he is on track to play at the start of the Australian summer."