Mitchell Starc has revealed he turned his back on a possible deal at the Indian Premier League to join Yorkshire.

The Australian fast bowler will begin an initial five-week spell as the county’s overseas player this weekend after spending seven weeks on Australia’s tour of the Caribbean.

He played the last Test of a three-match series at Dominica last week but it was his only competitive outing since the start of March.

“I was looking at a few options for our winter. There’s IPL and all those sorts of things, which I was in the auction for,” explained the left-arm quick, 22, who has never been to England.

“I decided against it in the end because I thought the best thing for my game would be to go and develop in county cricket and play the longer forms of the game.

“With the Ashes coming up, it’s a good chance for me to get some cricket in England.

“If I can help contribute to the lads there at Yorkshire and help get them back up into the first division, where they probably should be, I’ll be very happy.”

Starc is currently shaking off the effects of jet-lag in Sydney after an unenviable 56-hour journey home.

He lands in England on Saturday and is set for his debut in next week’s County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Bristol after receiving the necessary No Objection Certificate from Cricket Australia.

“It’s been a long trip home,” he chuckled. “It was Dominica to Barbados, Barbados to Miami, Miami to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Sydney.

“There were a couple of delays in there too but these things happen.

“I’ve got a couple of days at home to repack the bags and then get over to Yorkshire. I’ll be packing the woolies and hand-warmers.”

Starc is likely to play in four Championship and four 40-over matches for Yorkshire. That could be extended, although Australia have a one-day tour of the UK between June 21 and July 10.

“I’m only there for five weeks at the moment, so I’ll see how I go for the first few and take it from there,” he added.

“There’s an opportunity there to play Twenty20 too.”

Yorkshire face Leicestershire at Scarborough in the Championship starting tomorrow.