Pattinson to undergo surgery to prolong career
Australia fast bowler James Pattinson will undergo a spinal fusion surgery in New Zealand to fix a recurring stress fracture that could end his Test career.
Cricket Australia head of sports science Alex Kountouris said that Pattinson will do the procedure soon with the hope that it will prolong his career .
The paceman will undergo the surgery done by the same specialists that saved former Kiwi speedster Shane Bond.
The 27-year-old Pattinson, whose career has been disrupted by injuries, was forced to miss the upcoming Ashes after suffering another setback.
ALSO READ: Pre-injury purple patch keeps Pattinson driven
Kountouris said in Sydney: “He has got four old stress fractures that haven’t healed since his teenage years. What he’s doing is getting bone stress on one part of a healthy bone and that one part of the bone keeps breaking.
“It has broken four times in the one spot [since 2013]. He has broken it in the same spot again, that’s the bad thing. Once you heal from a fracture it shouldn’t break in the same place.
“It should become stronger than it ever was before. The fact he is going in the same place means there is a lot of stress in that one area.
“We’ve obviously reviewed this to death… looking at how much he bowled, all the technical stuff, there is a whole bunch of stuff we’re looking at.
“We’re hoping to learn from some of the things that have happened and what he can cope with and what we can’t cope with. He wants to play Test cricket and he’s obviously a very good Test bowler, so our goal is to get him back to Test cricket.
“He has been great. We’ve engaged him in these conversations with the specialists in New Zealand and stuff like that. We’ve had meetings, we’re discussing all the options.
“We haven’t 100% confirmed we’re going to do this, but we’re certainly a long way down the track of looking at it.”
Australia’s pacemen have a history of missing several games with injuries and will be hoping that Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood come through the gruelling five Tests against England that start on 23 November.
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.