Shane Watson : Can't bowl, can bat (maybe)

[saneindian]

Shane Watson has suffered a new injury, compounding the news that Pat Cummins has been ruled out for the rest of the Test summer but will still sign with the IPL. The volume of cricket Watson plays and the ability to manage Cummins, 18, has raised more questions about whether Australia's stars should play in glorified domestic Twenty20 competitions like the IPL and the Champions League. Already struggling to overcome hamstring problems before the Boxing Day Test against India, Watson has now damaged a calf muscle. He sustained different injuries during the Twenty20, one-day and Test series in South Africa over the past two months, eventually ruling him out of this two-Test series against New Zealand. Team performance manager Pat Howard insists Watson's new injury is minor but claimed it was too soon to make an accurate assessment. Howard was unable to say what impact it would have on Watson's ability to bowl in the opening match of the series at the MCG. "It's too new," Howard said of the injury. "I have requested more information." For the second time inside a year Cummins has broken down with bone-related stress problems. The first was a long-term back injury after bowling 65 overs during the Sheffield Shield final in March, just his third first class game. In his subsequent first class match, a brilliant Test debut in Johannesburg less than three weeks ago, Cummins suffered a significant heel problem. "If I'm walking around, anything quicker than a slow walk then I start to feel it a bit," Cummins said. "But I won't be in a boot or crutches or anything like that, so it's still manageable." Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris claimed that scans did not originally show up the extent of the problem. "We now believe that Patrick has a bone stress injury as well as the 'fat pad' injury," Kountouris said. "This means that his recovery will take longer than first expected. He is not likely to resume bowling until early to mid-January 2012." Cummins would need to first prove his fitness for NSW and with the last Test against India beginning in Adelaide on January 24, there would be no time for a recall. Despite a lucrative IPL contract in the offing, he insists the priority is Test cricket. "If I do play IPL and it's going to affect my other cricket, I'll put it on hold," Cummins said. "But I don't think IPL is too much to worry about in terms of workload. You play a game every couple of days and it's only four overs. The workload won't affect anything." Cricket Australia claims it has no power to stop Cummins playing in the IPL if he is fit and there are no national commitments, although the first half of the IPL next April and May clashes with Australia's tour of the West Indies. "Management of Cummins is to prepare him for a long-term future in Test cricket. That is a priority," a CA spokesman said. "Going or not going to IPL competition is his choice, unless the IPL matches clash with CA cricket. "However, in making his choice, we are confident he will liaise with CA high performance to understand the implications, if any, of playing IPL for his Test and other CA cricket preparation." Australian cricket's casualty ward: Pat Cummins (heel) likely to miss Test summer Shane Watson (hamstring/calf) doubt for Boxing Day Ryan Harris (hip) hopeful of playing Boxing Day Shaun Marsh (back) should be fit for Boxing Day Ben Cutting (side strain) out for Test summer Tim Paine (broken finger, bone graft) long term Doug Bollinger (hamstring) hopeful for NSW http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/watson-injury-curse-is-back/story-e6frfg8o-1226216729039 What a shame. The injury list for the Aussies keeps growing.

[G_B_]

see sebby I told you Watson is a injury waiting to happen even Ryan Harris. He will probably break down during the test match. I cant see Aus taking any risks with him.

[Pagalpanti]

I feel Watson will play but might not bowl so that he plays the whole series.

[G_B_]

I feel Watson will play but might not bowl so that he plays the whole series.

thats the only way he can play the series. whats happened for Aus is that Watson has been bowling way to many overs as a result of the frontline bowlers of Aus not picking up wickets. its a work load he cannot handle.

[ganeshran]

How does the IPL come into picture here. The next one is 5 months away. He could very well regain fitness before that.

[Needforspeed]

What about Big Bash? Will he play in that?

[J P K]

marsh, watson and harries poor fitness level IPL might have played role in it

[Old guy]

lol if this continues i dont think australia would have any bowler left for india series >.

[putrevus]

WTF is wrong with this writer why bring IPL into picture.

[cowboysfan]

WTF is wrong with this writer why bring IPL into picture.

its bound to affect any cricketer if you play 2 months on non stop cricket,t20 is no stroll in the park.

[putrevus]

its bound to affect any cricketer if you play 2 months on non stop cricket' date='t20 is no stroll in the park.[/quote'] I thought IPL was finished in May and he has played lot of cricket since so why bring IPL and say it caused his injuries.

[cowboysfan]

its tough to shake these injuries you picked up in ipl,just look at how we are struggling right now to field a proper team.our own maharathis are trying to play through ipl even when they are injured,viru has not been the same since that fiasco in the ipl.

[deathmonger]

things looking good. hope ryan harris crashes out too.

[bulbul]

its tough to shake these injuries you picked up in ipl' date='just look at how we are struggling right now to field a proper team.our own maharathis are trying to play through ipl even when they are injured,viru has not been the same since that fiasco in the ipl.[/quote'] IPL is fun cricket...you wont get injured or Tired...its proven from some Specialists here :giggle: so no excuses..

[99.94]

lol if this continues i dont think australia would have any bowler left for india series >.< good thing for them pattinson has good clean action so he is not injury prone idk how are they gonna cope up with all these injuries im feeling bad for them strangely sigh :P

Good point. I like the look of Pattinson. Nice easy action but still generates pace, bounce and swing. I think he should be a mainstay of our attack for the next 10 years (maybe I'm getting carried away after only one test, but he looked impressive).

[rkt.india]

its bound to affect any cricketer if you play 2 months on non stop cricket' date='t20 is no stroll in the park.[/quote'] :WTF: This is a ridiculous argument. I mean a player gets tired in 3 hours of play and 90 minutes of fielding and not in 5 days of test cricket continuously. T20 is just entertainment and less stress that is why guys like Malinga, Tait, and Nannes have decided to plat T20 rather than tests because test hurts their bodies.

[cowboysfan]

:WTF: This is a ridiculous argument. I mean a player gets tired in 3 hours of play and 90 minutes of fielding and not in 5 days of test cricket continuously. T20 is just entertainment and less stress that is why guys like Malinga' date=' Tait, and Nannes have decided to plat T20 rather than tests because test hurts their bodies.[/quote'] this is ridiculous.how many injuries have we seen in IPL.Pujara has his international career derailed because of IPL and he isnt even a good t20 player!!!.these guys play intense cricket for 3 hours,its not a stroll in the park.

[CoverDrive]

WTF is wrong with this writer why bring IPL into picture.

thought of the IPL injured these guys

[Viki_J]

god bless IPL :haha: watson should recover soon and play

[rkt.india]

this is ridiculous.how many injuries have we seen in IPL.Pujara has his international career derailed because of IPL and he isnt even a good t20 player!!!.these guys play intense cricket for 3 hours' date='its not a stroll in the park.[/quote'] Those are freak injuries, an happen anywhere, Yuvraj got one while playing kho-kho. I tell you any cricketer will be happy playing 3 hours in a day, rather than 5 continuous days in a test match in searing heat and obviously test matches squeezes more out players than a 3 hour long T20. Don't talk about freak injuries here. Ishant bowled 50 overs in IPL in 50 days while bowled that many overs within 5 days in Lords test, so tell where Ishant had to put more effort which was more tiring for him, bowling 50 overs in 50 days of IPL or playing 35 days of test cricket and bowling over 300 overs in WI and England.