I'm an Oz cricketer, get me to a hospital!

[from_the_stands]

I really don't know where to start with this. It seems that not a week goes by without more bad news about an Oz cricketer sustaining an injury, or being told that an existing injury is much worse than first thought! Whilst I accept that injuries are a part of sport, what I find hard to swallow is the sheer number of injuries that are occuring in and around the Oz squad. Alex Kountouris, who is the team physio, must have one of the most unenviable jobs in Australia. And the situation has now become so bad, that I'd consider replacing him with a magician!


With the India series just over a week away, this is the current Oz injury list, in no particular order;

Tim Paine - fractured finger requiring surgery. Out for several months.
Shane Watson - possibly coming back for the Boxing day Test, but for how long before his next injury?
Shaun Marsh - if it isn't his groin, it's his back!
Mitchell Johnson - ruled out for the summer, with a broken radar, amongst other things!
Pat Cummins - injured after 1 Test with a foot injury. Expected to miss entire India series.
Ryan Harris - ruled out for the rest of the summer with his latest injury.
Ben Cutting - sustained an injury after being selected to the Oz squad for the first time!
Simon Katich - delisted when injured, for fear of sustaining further injuries!
Doug Bollinger - sustained an injury and seems to be unable to get back into the squad, even with all the injuries!
Phil Jaques - sustained an injury and was never seen again!
Clint McKay - sustained an injury and was never seen again!
Nathan Hauritz - sustained an injury and has only just broken back into the NSW side.
Shaun Tait - retired from Test cricket after sustaining too many injuries.
Brett Lee - retired from Test cricket after sustaining too many injuries.
Nathan Bracken - retired from cricket after sustaining too many injuries.
Shane Warne - retired years ago, but managed to burn himself at a BBQ on the eve of his big comeback in Oz domestic T20 (BBL).

Have I forgotten anyone?

Has the baggygreen cap become a poisoned challice? It seems that if you get to wear one these, you're destined to break down at some point! I'm surprised that channel 9 haven't started up a new reality tv program called "I'm an Oz cricketer, get me to a hospital!" Shane Watson would be the mainstay of the show, with the most appearances!

Who will be the next Oz cricketer to join this cast of characters?

[IndusCreed]

Damn!! At this speed, you will need at least a dozen 12th men Ok, no more

[SaintPowelly]

You missed out Glenn McGrath standing on the ball.

[OffStumpYorker]

Thats a pretty impressive Injury List FTS, it rivals England in the 90's.

At least you get to try lots of differnent players, to see whos up and coming, its strange that the old faces (Ponting, Clarke and Hussey) seem to be relitively injury free at the moment.

[IndusCreed]

It has been one-way slide down for the team Oz, a far cry from the golden days! Hopefully, things will get better!

[Spartacus_Aardvark]

It has been one-way slide down for the team Oz, a far cry from the golden days! Hopefully, things will get better!

Not too quickly I hope. I'm quite enjoying watching them feel what it is like to be rubbish/injury-plagued for a while, just as England did for so long.

But not for too long though... it is in the best interests of world cricket to have as many strong nations as possible.

[Alviro Patterson]

Out of interest, when did healthcare firm Bupa start sponsoring the Australian cricket team

[Aidan11]

I remember when England had a lot of injuries but I can't remember a list as long as this one.

[ddb]

Only the top 7 are actually injured or have I missed something?

India's current injured players in comparison:

Varun Aaron
PK
Munaf
Sree
Harbhajan
Aravind

Players coming back from injury:
Nehra
Pathan
Badrinath
Pujara

[GG - Amir Sohail]

The only one of those that might get in is Praveen Kumar.

[ddb]

The only one of those that might get in is Praveen Kumar.

Yeah. But our backups in Aus are our 9/10th choices in reality.

I've said if Ishant, Yadav and Zak stay fit, we'll be fine. If not, probably stuffed.

[GG - Amir Sohail]

The only one of those that might get in is Praveen Kumar.

Yeah. But our backups in Aus are our 9/10th choices in reality.

I've said if Ishant, Yadav and Zak stay fit, we'll be fine. If not, probably stuffed.

Yeah, I'd agree with that. Just hope that Irfan is drafted in if one gets injured.

[ddb]

Adding Pattinson and Siddle to the list.

[Slipstream]

Adding Pattinson and Siddle to the list.

Pattinson - slight calf strain
Siddle - elbow problem
Warner - sore back

[greyblazer]

I remember when England had a lot of injuries but I can't remember a list as long as this one.

There are many tours I can remember when the list was long.

The Ashes series in 02/03 saw injuries to Gough,Freddie, Jones, Thorpe flew back home for personal reasons, Giles got injured for a test or two, Vaughan played with a shoulder problem, Caddick played with a side strain at Adelaide, Harmison got injured during the onedayers, White got injured, Alex Tudor was carried on a stretcher after being hit by Lee and maybe more

In the 96 WC the situation got so bad that White got injured the day he flew all the way to the subcontinent as a replacement player. During that tournament everyone from Hick, Smith to the attack leader at that time Cork were carrying injuries.