Battered England struggle with injuries against rampant Aussie ODI team
Instead of cricket the rate of injuries that both camps continue to suffer has become the main talking point of an unnecessarily long ODI series between England and Australia.
Both teams have a spate of injuries to look after ahead of the all important World Cup tournament set to start in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 next month.
The Aussies strolled to a 3-0 lead in the seven match series after winning the third match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) by 4 wickets.
The first three matches of the series have caused injuries to Shaun Tait, Mike Hussey, Nathan Hauritz and Mitchell Johnson in the Aussie camp.
Hauritz and Hussey are serious doubts for the World Cup that Australia bids to defend for the fourth time in succession. The regular captain Ricky Ponting is also on the side lines following a finger injury sustained during the third Ashes
Test at the WACA in Perth.
The scenario is equally bleak for England, who has seen injuries to Kevin Pietersen, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann besides the injury sustained by fast bowler Stuart Broad in the second Ashes Test at Adelaide, which ruled him out of the
remainder of the tour.
Before the Sydney match the English captain, Andrew Strauss, conceded that it was difficult to deal with so many fitness concerns yet the team was in Australia to play cricket and they would give it their best shot under any condition.
"That is how injuries occur and that is why with the schedules we have the rotation policy is in place", he said. "You've got to manage these situations. You can't just throw your hands up and say 'we can't compete. You just have to find
a way to complete and the guys that have come in have an opportunity to make a name for them. They need to grab that with both hands".
The tourists hardly have any time left before they play their next match and once the series finishes they would be returning home for a mere three days before packing their bags and setting off for the Sub-continent to play a tournament
they are yet to win.
Despite the daunting prospects, Strauss did his best to keep a straight face. He stated that there was little point complaining because tours are planned well in advance. "There's no point moaning about it we've just got to get on with
it. We're here to play cricket and that's what we'll do".
Meanwhile, the lanky Broad has rejoined the squad in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 to continue his rehabilitation from a stomach injury.
On the other hand, the leading spinner in the team, Swann is out for up to two weeks after sustaining a knee injury in the opening T20 match of the limited overs part of the tour, at the Adelaide Oval.
There is some relief for the England squad as their pace spearhead James Anderson will be available again for the next ODI after he was sent home to rest after a herculean performance in the Ashes series, which the tourists won 3-1, recording
their first Ashes win in Australia since 1986-87.
"Graeme Swann I don't think will be available this week but hopefully for the last couple of games", Strauss said. "Kevin Pietersen we are hopeful will be fit for Wednesday, but we've got to see how he develops in the next couple of days".
The spate of injuries have taken the gloss off the ODI series, the fans of cricket around the world would be hoping for an English comeback in the fourth match otherwise the last three matches would end up being of academic interest only.
Tags: