**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka Jan - Feb 2025

[Starfighter]

That hasn't been his only injury though right?

Although there's probably not a fast bowler on the planet reaching 140 clicks or over who doesn't have a lengthy injury record, so his build probably doesn't have anything to do with it.

Does the idea that diving around in the field (or the expectation thereof) is causing more injuries to bowlers hold any water though simply because that's how he hurt his shoulder? Probably not. Unless there is conclusive evidence to suggest otherwise.

All his shoulder problems stem from that injury. He's had multiple subsequent dislocations (including the high five incident and one in October) and two surgeries - the forthcoming one will be his third. Even a brief look at medical literature shows this isn't a surprise, recurrence is common.

He's had four hamstring injuries and one surgery, but I don't see how that would be trigged by his not being tall. He actually put on a considerable amount of muscle to try stabilise his shoulder taking his weight from 75 to 81 kg, which is on the heavy side for a fit person of his height (for comparison, in this article Starc says he weighs 93 kg max, he's 7" taller). The extra weight could even be a cause, his legs would take more force. He's also had a side strain, extra muscle could be a factor here because it can be at the expense of flexibility, which is very important for a fast bowler. His action is subtly more open and less fluid that it used to be.

As for diving around the field, a dislocated shoulder can happen if it's not done well or something goes wrong. It's not a bowler exclusive thing, though Nathan Hauritz in 2011 was the first example I heard of and they may be at greater risk because they tend to field in the outfield rather than the slips or ring. O. Pope, Coulter-Nile, Rauf, Iyer and Lynn have all done it. I knew of some instances at my club when I played. It's a very real risk and just from examples I could find diving in the field seems to be the main cause in cricket. Therefore if you don't do it that risk would largely be eliminated. But players are obviously expected to because of the imperative of saving every possible run in limited overs cricket.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Simon Jones enters the chat with Courtney Walsh

We're reaching a long way back though.

The hundreds of bowlers who have injured themselves purely through the process of bowling have also stormed in here haha

 

[Son Of Coco]

All his shoulder problems stem from that injury. He's had multiple subsequent dislocations (including the high five incident and one in October) and two surgeries - the forthcoming one will be his third. Even a brief look at medical literature shows this isn't a surprise, recurrence is common.

He's had four hamstring injuries and one surgery, but I don't see how that would be trigged by his not being tall. He actually put on a considerable amount of muscle to try stabilise his shoulder taking his weight from 75 to 81 kg, which is on the heavy side for a fit person of his height (for comparison, in this article Starc says he weighs 93 kg max, he's 7" taller). The extra weight could even be a cause, his legs would take more force. He's also had a side strain, extra muscle could be a factor here because it can be at the expense of flexibility, which is very important for a fast bowler. His action is subtly more open and less fluid that it used to be.

As for diving around the field, a dislocated shoulder can happen if it's not done well or something goes wrong. It's not a bowler exclusive thing, though Nathan Hauritz in 2011 was the first example I heard of and they may be at greater risk because they tend to field in the outfield rather than the slips or ring. O. Pope, Coulter-Nile, Rauf, Iyer and Lynn have all done it. I knew of some instances at my club when I played. It's a very real risk and just from examples I could find diving in the field seems to be the main cause in cricket. Therefore if you don't do it that risk would largely be eliminated. But players are obviously expected to because of the imperative of saving every possible run in limited overs cricket.

He has a strange looking build on him now. When I saw him the other night, I thought he looked a bit like this:



Very square and pretty broad in the shoulders.

 

[Son Of Coco]

If anything Richardson is one of the only blokes who doesn't seem to dive around at all, that's because of his ****ed shoulder though

He should be throwing himself into the ground to put it back in. It worked for Mel Gibson.

 

[Spark]

Yikes, Wilson and Holdstock are umpiring this series - "which captain is better at reviews" could easily become a decisive factor in that case

 

[TheJediBrah]

How is Wilson still employed, let alone officiating Australia games. Beyond ridiculous

 

[SteveNZ]

How is Wilson still employed, let alone officiating Australia games. Beyond ridiculous

'How is he employed, especially deemed fit to stand near the greatest XI men on the face of the earth"

It's a fair point though, there are some jobs that are harder to get out of than get into. Umpiring being one of them. Joel Wilson is almost literally worse than chance, a blind man or an inanimate carbon rod

 

[Gnske]

I maintain that Bangladeshi players have the right attitude towards umpires, especially Shakib.

@cnerd123

 

[social]

'How is he employed, especially deemed fit to stand near the greatest XI men on the face of the earth"

It's a fair point though, there are some jobs that are harder to get out of than get into. Umpiring being one of them. Joel Wilson is almost literally worse than chance, a blind man or an inanimate carbon rod

Funny thing is that he went from being horrible to okay recently and now back to horrible

Not suggesting anything other than he had a brief spell where he was okay before reverting to normal

 

[social]

There was a theory proposed years ago that Australia & England were at a disadvantage following the introduction of neutral umpires as they were then forced to play under substandard umpires all the time

Then you watched videos of our guys from back in the day

 

[Burgey]

'How is he employed, especially deemed fit to stand near the greatest XI men on the face of the earth"

It's a fair point though, there are some jobs that are harder to get out of than get into. Umpiring being one of them. Joel Wilson is almost literally worse than chance, a blind man or an inanimate carbon rod

Nah, if Wilson gave India the number of bad decisions he does Australia, they’d have spat the dummy and demanded him sacked on pain of calling off the series.

 

[Burgey]

There was a theory proposed years ago that Australia & England were at a disadvantage following the introduction of neutral umpires as they were then forced to play under substandard umpires all the time

I think this is a very fair theory tbh. It’s like we were forced to indulge the lesser nations. Which I suppose is ok sometimes

 

[the big bambino]

We just can’t seem to shake Wilson from our games. It’ll be bad enough here as we try to win a sub con series but I hope he doesn’t get the WTC final. It’ll be hard enough against Rabada, Jansen, Coetzee and Ngidi/Maphaka.

 

[TheJediBrah]

'How is he employed, especially deemed fit to stand near the greatest XI men on the face of the earth"

It's a fair point though, there are some jobs that are harder to get out of than get into. Umpiring being one of them. Joel Wilson is almost literally worse than chance, a blind man or an inanimate carbon rod

Wilson is a 12th man in the field against Australia. Actually cost us series

 

[Spark]

We just can’t seem to shake Wilson from our games. It’ll be bad enough here as we try to win a sub con series but I hope he doesn’t get the WTC final. It’ll be hard enough against Rabada, Jansen, Coetzee and Ngidi/Maphaka.

You'd think it'd be Kettleborough and Gough. I hope it is anyway

 

[Gob]

Head
Khawaja
Marnus
Smith
Inglis
Webster
Carey
Starc
Murphy/Boland
Lyon
Kuhnemann

Most sensible team I guess come the first test. Would've personally preferred Pete using his hands to score runs at 5 but Inglis is the next best option. Boland is there as an option but in all likelihood, it'll be Murphy

 

[Spark]

I just remain opposed to picking Inglis as a specialist batsman on principle. Especially to bat him higher than he plays for his Shield team

 

[the big bambino]

I don’t think Inglis fits in the team unless it’s for an injured Carey. I’d like Australia to keep the same order as the last test v India. Kind of coming around to keeping Konstas opening and Travis staying at 5. We’re likely to change the bowling structure from the normal 3 quicks and a spinner to the other way around to meet the conditions. Not sure we need to get funky with the batting order for that reason though.

 

[Prince EWS]

I wanted Handscomb or Maxwell but now that it hasn't happened I'd probably just stick with the same top six as the last Test too. I'd sooner pick McSweeney at 5 than Inglis as well.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Honestly think you guys should even try such a side. Khawaja has not been great, I suppose its too radical as he really does not deserve to be dropped but I would be very excited as an Aussie fan if this side goes out to the park.

Konstas
Head
Marnus
Smith
Conolly
Webster
Carey (wk)
Starc
Lyon
Kuhnemann
Boland

I think @Silver Silva and @slcricfan1 etc. would be very excited too.