Labuschagne reveals extent of horror Ashes injury; Hazlewood’s World Cup withdrawal marks 17-year first
By Andrew Wu
Marnus Labuschagne suffered a badly broken thumb in the final Ashes Test but is pushing through the pain barrier to play, despite being advised by doctors to rest.
The Test No.3 damaged the bone in his thumb in his right hand as well the tendons and ligaments after being struck by England seamer Matthew Potts in Sydney.
Initial X-rays did not reveal anything sinister, but a scan two weeks later showed the true extent of the damage.
Marnus Labuschagne as he enters the field of play during the SCG Test.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s just a few tendons on the inside of the thumb, and then the ligaments on top, a few ruptured ligaments, a high-grade tear of the tendon, and then a little bit of bone came off with the tendon,” Labuschagne said.
The injury requires Labuschagne to rest and wear a brace for eight weeks to heal but, so determined is he to take to the field, he said he reached a compromise with doctors to play for his state.
Labuschagne played three games for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL and lined up in the state one-day competition for Queensland this week before the current Shield match against Victoria. Meanwhile, Steve Smith is not lining up for NSW in the Shield, and Travis Head rested during the BBL.
“They gave their opinion,” Labuschagne said of the advice from doctors. “The boundaries of me playing is I have to bat with a guard on, and we have to strap it and stuff like that. There’s some give and take there to make sure that we don’t do any more damage to it.
“Hopefully over time, being in this brace for eight weeks allows it to sort of heal and reattach the ligaments and tendons.”
The injury affects the way Labuschagne holds the bat, and he also feels discomfort from the impact of the bat on the ball.
He wears different guards while he is fielding and batting, the latter making it more difficult to roll the bat over the ball for cross-bat shots while also forcing him to defend straighter.
Labuschagne batted on through pain during the Bulls’ Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria.Credit: Getty Images
The Bulls captain made 41 in the second innings for Queensland, who reached 6-173 at stumps on the second day, a lead of 178 on a pitch that continues to be difficult to bat on but offered slightly less assistance to the bowlers than the first day.
Labuschagne’s passion for his state came through in heated exchanges with Victorian paceman Sam Elliott and skipper Peter Handscomb, the second of which required umpires Andrew Crozier and Mitchell Claydon to step in.
Elliott, who made a hand gesture signalling “have a rest” in sending off Labuschagne after dismissing him on Thursday, had exchanged words in an animated conversation with the Test star when he was at the top of his mark.
Moments later, Labuschagne ran directly to Handscomb at first slip as he completed a third run to hold another discussion.
Labuschagne was marking his guard before walking towards Handscomb to start another conversation when both umpires came in to defuse the situation.
Both camps played down the confrontations after play.
“That’s why you play Shield, the contest, you want both teams to want it,” Labuschagne said.
“You’re playing in your own contest, and you’re trying to win.
“That’s what we want Shield cricket to be, right? We want it to be tough. We want to be a contest and the skills at the end of the day win.
Elliott dismissed the episode with Labuschagne as “all fun and games”.
Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup.Credit: Getty Images
“He was just letting me know that he didn’t appreciate what I did there,” Elliott said.
Hazlewood’s World Cup withdrawal marks a 17-year first for Australia
Australia’s bid to win the T20 World Cup has hit another roadblock with paceman Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the tournament.
Less than a week after Pat Cummins was pulled from Australia’s squad, selectors have had to make another significant change to their attack, replacing Hazlewood, who Cricket Australia say has not fully recovered from an Achilles injury.
Selectors have not named an immediate replacement for Hazlewood, content to effectively run a player short with matches against Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Oman in the initial phase of the event. Sydney Sixers paceman Sean Abbott is with the team as a travelling reserve.
The last-minute withdrawal of Hazlewood marks a generational change for the national men’s team. Not since the 2009 Champions Trophy has Australia entered an ICC event without the fabled five of Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood, who have been integral to the team’s success in all formats of the game.
Hazlewood’s latest injury continues a wretched run for the veteran fast bowler, who missed the entire Ashes series with hamstring and Achilles tendon issues.
Australia named Hazlewood in their initial squad in the belief he would be available for the latter stages of the tournament, but he has not progressed as hoped.
Though he was better suited in the longer formats early in his career, Hazlewood’s T20 bowling improved significantly in recent years through his involvement in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
His absence leaves captain Mitch Marsh with a severely weakened attack in Australia’s bid to win a second global T20 title. Hazlewood was in red-hot form in the bilateral T20 series against South Africa, New Zealand and India leading into the home summer.
“We were hopeful Josh would be back to match fitness by the Super 8 stage but the latest indications [are] he is still some time away and accelerating his program will carry too much risk,” selector Tony Dodemaide said.
“We will not be naming a replacement player immediately. We feel we are well covered for the initial games so will make any later decisions based on priority need at the time.”
There is also doubt if white-ball specialist and death overs expert Nathan Ellis and T20 blaster Tim David will be ready for the first game against Ireland on Wednesday. Cricket Australia said the pair were “on track to be available for the group stage”, while leg-spinner Adam Zampa “will be available” to start the tournament.
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