John Hastings out for the season
Brydon Coverdale
October 5, 2011
The allrounder
John Hastings, who was part of Australia's World Cup campaign earlier this year, is expected to miss the entire home season after having surgery on his right shoulder. Hastings, 25, was just establishing himself as a full-time member of Australia's ODI and Twenty20 teams, and is now likely to be on the sidelines for six to nine months.
Hastings hurt the shoulder during a fall at Victorian training after he returned home from Australia's recent tour of Sri Lanka. He underwent reconstructive surgery in Melbourne on Tuesday and the team doctor, Trefor James, said Hastings would be in a sing for four weeks before physiotherapy would begin.
The injury is a blow not only to Australia's limited-overs teams but also to Victoria's hopes of climbing back up the Sheffield Shield table this summer. His state captain, and the leader of Australia's T20 team, Cameron White, said Hastings would be a big loss, after two seasons ago he topped Victoria's wicket tally in all three formats.
"It's very disappointing for John," White told ESPNcricinfo. "It's a pretty serious operation that he's had. He's worked so hard over the last couple of years to get himself not only playing really well for Victoria but playing really well for Australia. He's been a permanent member of the side in both formats, so it's disappointing for him.
"When he's not playing for Victoria it's a massive loss for us. He's one of those guys who can bowl all day for you, the same pace from first ball to last ball, so he's a great bloke to have around for us. He's a very substantial loss."
Hastings earned a Cricket Australia contract this season after making his international debut in October last year. He was preferred in the World Cup squad ahead of the veteran Queensland allrounder James Hopes, and the selectors must now assess whether his absence affects the balance of the ODI side.
For Victoria, the injury could mean plenty of opportunities for the fast bowler Jayde Herrick, who has impressed with his work during the off-season, his first as a contracted cricketer. The young allrounder Alex Keath might have been a potential replacement but he will spend the first few months as a batsman only, as he continues to recover from a knee problem that has prevented him from bowling.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/535083.html
No huge loss IMO. But I imagine there'll be some weeping in the dressing rooms as they just lurrrrrrrrrrrve picking this bloke whenever they can.
