Fractured finger rules http://www.senore.com/Cricket/John-Francis-Mooney-c67825 out of World T20 – Cricket News Update
There will be no John Mooney in the Irish squad, yet to be named, that will fly Sri Lanka next month to play in this year’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 Championship, as he has been sidelined for a minimum of 12 weeks after suffering a serious finger fracture. This was confirmed by both the player and the Ireland cricket board.
"[Finger specialist] confirmed I have fractured it and ripped the tendon from the bone," a dejected Mooney told ESPNcricinfo on Thursday.
The 30-year-old Dublin-born all-rounder, who had returned to the game playing as a bowler while still resting his thumb, which he had dislocated during a match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Richardson-c85395 at the first slip during an Irish club cricket match for North County.
Cricket Ireland’s performance director Richard Holdsworth said that initially it was hoped that the all-rounder might return to cricket by September, but scans on his injured finger have confirmed that he had damaged the ligaments.
"We had hoped that it was just a break, and he might have been able to be back playing in 3-4 weeks", said http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Holdsworth-c63286. "But he has damaged the ligaments and so we've reluctantly had to rule him out,” he added further.
The combative Dubliner, who scored the winning runs for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in 2011 Cricket World Cup, is in a splint now for 12 weeks.
Holdsworth termed Mooney as key member of the Irish squad and admitted that they will miss him during the T20 extravaganza in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 next month.
“It's a great shame and a setback to him … He's such a big part of the team and we really want him to be there," added the Cricket Ireland performance director.
It may be noted that this is Mooney’s third injury this year. He returned home early from T20 qualifiers in Dubai, in March due to a hamstring injury, and sustained a dislocated thumb last month during a match against Afghanistan. The all-rounder said that it was disappointing to miss out on the rest of the season, and especially the Twenty20 World Cup.
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