Cricinfo staff
September 19, 2007
Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, will miss the remainder of the ICC World Twenty20 after suffering a hamstring strain while batting against Pakistan on Tuesday. The injury also put Ponting in doubt for the upcoming seven-match ODI series against India.
"Over the next three to five days we will have a much better indication of where it's heading, so we will know whether he will have to go home or be able to go to India," Alex Kountouris, the team physiotherapist, told AFP. "Hopefully, he will take some part in the series in India. The best case scenario is a couple of weeks. The worst case scenario is four weeks."
Ponting strained his hamstring while running between the wickets against Pakistan and completed his innings with the help of a runner. "He just took off for a run and felt it a bit," Kountoris said. "He was stretching his left leg because he was not sure if there was a problem. I don't think he has had a hamstring strain before."
Ponting joined the team two days ahead of the tournament and missed Australia's practice games. However, Kountouris dismissed suggestions that Ponting was under-prepared. "He's been here for a week now so really I could not say with confidence that it had anything to do with it [Ponting arriving late]. It's just coincidence."
Australia take on Sri Lanka on September 20 in a decider for a semi-final slot.
Meanwhile, Ben Hilfenhaus has been named as Shaun Tait's replacement in the 14-man squad touring India. Tait has not yet fully recovered from his elbow surgery. "Shaun is making significant progress and has commenced bowling. However, it has been decided that he will miss the tour to optimise his rehabilitation by taking part in a series of games in South Australia," Kountouris was quoted as saying in a press release from Cricket Australia.
Hilfenhaus is with the Australian team in South Africa, having replaced Tait for the ICC World Twenty20 as well.
© Cricinfo
September 19, 2007
Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, will miss the remainder of the ICC World Twenty20 after suffering a hamstring strain while batting against Pakistan on Tuesday. The injury also put Ponting in doubt for the upcoming seven-match ODI series against India.
"Over the next three to five days we will have a much better indication of where it's heading, so we will know whether he will have to go home or be able to go to India," Alex Kountouris, the team physiotherapist, told AFP. "Hopefully, he will take some part in the series in India. The best case scenario is a couple of weeks. The worst case scenario is four weeks."
Ponting strained his hamstring while running between the wickets against Pakistan and completed his innings with the help of a runner. "He just took off for a run and felt it a bit," Kountoris said. "He was stretching his left leg because he was not sure if there was a problem. I don't think he has had a hamstring strain before."
Ponting joined the team two days ahead of the tournament and missed Australia's practice games. However, Kountouris dismissed suggestions that Ponting was under-prepared. "He's been here for a week now so really I could not say with confidence that it had anything to do with it [Ponting arriving late]. It's just coincidence."
Australia take on Sri Lanka on September 20 in a decider for a semi-final slot.
Meanwhile, Ben Hilfenhaus has been named as Shaun Tait's replacement in the 14-man squad touring India. Tait has not yet fully recovered from his elbow surgery. "Shaun is making significant progress and has commenced bowling. However, it has been decided that he will miss the tour to optimise his rehabilitation by taking part in a series of games in South Australia," Kountouris was quoted as saying in a press release from Cricket Australia.
Hilfenhaus is with the Australian team in South Africa, having replaced Tait for the ICC World Twenty20 as well.
© Cricinfo
