Mitchell Starc Hopes to be Ready For Perth Test vs South Africa

Mitchell Starc felt he was on track to achieving peak match fitness by the time the first Test against South Africa starts on November 3 in Perth, declaring himself available for selection following a terrible training accident.

Starc, the 26-year-old Australian pace spearhead, suffered deep cuts after falling during a training session, his left knee cutting open after colliding with some equipment and requiring over 30 stitches. He needed emergency surgery after being rushed to hospital.

After five weeks of recuperation, including walking around with a leg brace, Starc announced on Thursday (October 20) that he was available for New South Wales' first Sheffield Shield match of the season against Queensland, starting Tuesday.

"I'll hopefully be on that plane on Monday to Brisbane and get some good bowling in and be back playing and ready to go for that first Test," said Starc in Sydney.

Starc has been sorely missed by Australia, who were whitewashed 5-0 in South Africa in a One-Day International series that ended earlier this month.

He was Australia's leading bowler on their tour of Sri Lanka prior to the South Africa hammering, taking 24 wickets at 15.16 in the 3-0 Test series whitewash.

Starc said he had been back up and bowling for around two weeks. "Since then it's been fine," he said. "I've been bowling off the long run at a net session with the NSW boys (on Tuesday) and will bowl at them again today and probably have another session before going over to Brisbane on Monday."

The second and third Tests will be played in Hobart and Adelaide.