The ICC World Cup 2019 has been in news for more things that are not cricket which is going on in the middle. The tournament has been marred with incessant, seemingly never-ending rain in the UK, which has become a talking point all over the world. Apart from this, the other talking point has been the injury list that has been growing and growing.
The latest entrants
India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled 2.4 overs of his spell against Pakistan at Old Trafford and pulled out thanks to a hamstring stiffness in his left leg. He tried to walk it off, did stretches and ultimately took the decision to walk off the field and did not return. Later it was confirmed as a left hamstring strain and Kumar has been ruled out for 2-3 matches as well.
England’s Jason Roy also injured his left hamstring in the match against West Indies and has been ruled out for two games atleast. In the same match, England captain Eoin Morgan also suffered from back spasms but has been cleared of any serious problems.
World Cup ends early
Dale Steyn has been touting this World Cup as his final chance at the redemption of the lost chance in the 2015 edition. Steyn’s tears were all over the news when Grant Elliot had hot him for a six in the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup and knocked them out of the tournament. He was determined to make it happen this year.
But in the previous 2-3 years, he had spent most of the time out of the game with injuries and though he looked fit enough to make a mark on the tournament, he reinjured his shoulder playing IPL 2019 and failed to get fit and had to go back home, as Proteas called Beuran Hendricks as a replacement.
Mohammad Shahzad of Afghanistan played both the warmup games and the first two games of the tournament as well but was then declared unfit and sent home. This was followed by Shahzad blaming the officials for sending him back despite him being fully fit. He was replaced by Ikram Ali Khil.
Players who got covers
Two of the biggest players who got injured and their teams called for covers were from India and Australia. Marcus Stoinis of Australia picked up a side strain against India bad enough to miss the following games. Australia had to call in Mitchell Marsh as cover for him.
Shikhar Dhawan was hit by a Pat Cummins short pitch delivery on his left thumb during the same game. He received treatment initially at the ground and carried on with his innings, scoring a match-winning century. However, after the innings, he was taken was scams which revealed a hairline fracture on his left thumb which has put him out of commission for three games at least. This led to India call in Rishabh Pant as a cover for him.
Other marginal cases
Hashim Amla was conked on his head by a Jofra Archer bouncer and had to go off the ground. He came back to bat thanks to a collapse of Proteas batting after concussion tests were carried out. He has continued to play and featured in his team’s games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Rashid Khan was also treated for a concussion after a Lockie Ferguson thunderbolt didn't bounce as much as Rashid thought as he ducked into it and was pinged on the head. The Afghanistan leggie was left dazed and confused but hasn't missed a match yet for his country in the tournament.
Lungi Ngidi played two games before suffering from a left hamstring injury which made him sit out of the few games. But he has since gained fitness and is expected to return for South Africa’s tie against New Zealand.
Andre Russell is a walking hospital thanks to all the issues with his knees and wrist and hamstrings and looks like he could break down at any moment. He goes down after bowling every delivery of his spell and winces in pain after hitting every ball for a four or six, but somehow is managing to carry on.
