Glenn Maxwell put through punishing session as another injury scare hits Australia
Glenn Maxwell continued to ramp up his bid for a quick return from concussion but it wasn’t an ideal night for Australia, writes DANIEL CHERNY.
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Glenn Maxwell was put through a punishing running session as he ramped up his bid for a quick return from concussion but there was an injury scare for Australia as reserve spinner Tanveer Sangha left the nets early.
Maxwell was among the group of Aussies who trained at an optional session at Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday night on the eve of Australia’s match with England.
Having been ruled out of the England clash because of his golf course mishap on Monday, Maxwell has been forced to jump through the hoops of Cricket Australia’s concussion protocols as he seeks to return in Tuesday’s match against Afghanistan in Mumbai.
After a light session on Thursday, Maxwell did shuttle runs under the Ahmedabad lights on Friday night. He then headed to the nets where he faced around 60 balls of slow bowling.
Australian captain Pat Cummins said on Friday that the Aussies were anticipating Maxwell would only miss one match, and there were clear signs of progress on Friday night.
However it wasn’t an ideal night for Australia, with Sangha leaving the nets, seemingly ahead of schedule. The leg-spinner, who is not part of Australia’s 15-man squad but has remained in India as a travelling reserve, had been bowling before receiving work from team physio Nick Jones.
The Aussies have sought to tread carefully with the emerging tweaker, who missed last summer with a back stress issue.
He is scheduled to remain in India following the World Cup as part of Australia’s Twenty20 squad for a five match series against the hosts.
Australia’s spin stocks are already stretched, with Maxwell sidelined and Ashton Agar having suffered a recurrence of the calf issue that led to his late omission from the World Cup squad.
Primary spinner Adam Zampa has had a strong tournament despite battling various issues including back spasms and illness.
Australia was able to call on just 13 players at selection for the England game with Maxwell recovering and Mitch Marsh having returned to Perth for a family issue.
The Aussies are optimistic Marsh will return before the tournament’s end.
Former Australian captain Tim Paine said it had been a poor choice for Maxwell to get on the back of a golf cart, which led to the injury.
“It’s astonishing really,” Paine said on SEN.
“It’s very unlucky. I’m laughing because we’re talking about in the middle of a World Cup, a key player in a professional sporting team, having a concussion from falling off the back of a golf cart.
“You’ve got to see the funny side of it. It’s not ideal. But it’s so ridiculous that it’s hilarious really.
“At the same time, it’s disappointing … I mean, Glenn Maxwell would be shattered.
“He didn’t mean to do this. It is a freak accident. From his point of view and the team’s point of view, they’d be shattered
“It’s just frustrating when stuff like that happens in such a big tournament or a big series and it is avoidable, but it is an accident. I can see how important it for players is to have that time away from the game. But he could play 72 holes, he could play 150 holes, I couldn’t care less. Just don‘t get on the back of a golf cart.”
Originally published as Glenn Maxwell put through punishing session as another injury scare hits Australia
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