Scans to reveal extent of former captain’s injury following dislocation in BBL semi loss

UPDATED: Tigers coach Adam Griffith has refused to speculate on whether George Bailey’s shoulder dislocation will end his Sheffield Shield season — and potentially his career.

TIGERS coach Adam Griffith has refused to speculate on whether George Bailey’s shoulder dislocation will end his Sheffield Shield season — and potentially his career.

The former Australian and Tasmanian skipper popped his shoulder diving to save a boundary in Thursday night’s Big Bash League semi-final loss to the Melbourne Stars, and was sent for scans on Friday to reveal the extent of the injury.

After a horror start to the shield campaign where he averaged a paltry 5.6 through the first four games — leading to him handing the captaincy to Matthew Wade to focus on batting — Bailey struck form with a half-century against South Australia and a century against Queensland.

He carried that confidence into the Big Bash to star in the middle order for the Canes.

But his immediate future is in serious doubt pending how much damage was caused from the dislocation.

George Bailey in pain after sustaining the injury on Thursday night. Picture: GETTY

At 36, Bailey is in the twilight of his glittering career, but Griffith would not be drawn on whether the injury could force the veteran into retirement.

“It’s way too early for that stuff … you just don’t know with those things how much damage it does until you get scans,” Griffith said.

“He was pretty sore last night, the shoulder popped out but then went back in again.

“He will get in this morning and we will hopefully get the news later today on where it sits. We will assess that and fingers crossed it is nothing too major.

“It is hard because he has never done a dislocation before, he is not sure.

George Bailey nurses his injured shoulder as he leaves the field. Picture: AAP

“If it was a bowler then you would obviously be pretty concerned, but as a batter we will just wait and see.”

After Hobart crashing out of the Big Bash competition, the Tigers players quickly turn their attention back to red-ball cricket, with a clash against the Redbacks starting in Adelaide next Saturday.

Bailey is not the only injury concern in the squad, with all-rounder James Faulkner requiring an injection in his knee to take the field for Hobart against the Stars.

Faulkner, who has been plagued by knee problems for the past three years, has not played first-class cricket since November 2017 and again looks set to be on the sidelines as the state looks to push its way back up the points table.

“It is in his opposite knee to the one we have had issues with before,” Griffith said.

“From what I know it is sort of the same as the other knee, but nowhere near as bad, there is some stuff up the top of the kneecap with some tendons and ligaments.

“At the moment we were just trying to get him up to play, now the [BBL] tournament is over we will investigate it further.”

Star import Jofra Archer also pushed through a small tear in his upper back to finish the BBL tournament.