BRYDON CARSE was so worried about his toe injury that he considered AMPUTATION.

Durham fast bowler Carse revealed: “At one stage, I was going to bed thinking, ‘I could actually do this – I could get rid of my second toe.’

“But the medical staff said I need the toe for my balance so it was quickly ruled out.

“I’m going to have to keep it a little longer.”

The impact of Carse’s bowling has caused problems with his left foot for several years but it became so bad last winter that he pulled out of the Champions Trophy and the IPL.

He is back now and playing in the white-ball matches against West Indies.

The T20 series starts this evening on his home ground at Chester-le-Street.

He will also be a key man in the Test series against India.

Carse, 29, added: “My feet are not the most ideal thing.

“Everyone has an opinion on my second toe.

“In the winter, it ended up being quite a severe wound and I got a couple of infections.

“I’ve changed a few things – I have a narrower boot and new insoles.

“They’re working well at the moment.”

Ben Stokes’ late father Ged famously had his middle finger removed to the knuckle to prolong his rugby league career.

Stokes waves his finger in the air every time he scores a century.

Meanwhile, Phil Salt has been granted paternity leave to miss the three T20 matches even though he returned to India immediately after the birth for Sunday’s IPL final.

He is replaced by Jamie Smith, Player of the Match in the final win of England’s 50-over clean sweep.