Injuries [Maxwell, Head.]

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Yeah, anger problems and alcohol don't go well together.

Can end with you almost bashing a man to death in a drunken rage outside a Bristol bar, all caught on video.

Wonder whether the ECB ever forced him to seek treatment...

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FTB Smith's tormentor Jofra Archer had a 4-game break in the IPL, reportedly for "undisclosed minor surgery in Belgium on his troublesome elbow".

Seems Archer half-denied it on social media, but his IPL coach Boucher confirmed it.

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Now the ECB have pulled Archer out of the IPL.

(Chris Jordan is his IPL replacement.)

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Brettig:

Robinson ankle scare underlines why Australia hold Ashes

May 21

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/robinson-ankle-scare-underlines-why-australia-hold-ashes-20230521-p5da0d.html

'“He’s got a sore ankle and he’ll be scanned on Monday to see how bad it is,” Sussex coach Paul Farbrace said. “It’s walking more than anything, it’s not actually the running part that makes him sore. We need to find out and Oliver wants to find out what’s going on with the ankle.”

Meanwhile, the brilliant but venerable James Anderson is working his way back from a groin strain suffered for Lancashire, Jofra Archer has just been ruled out of the Ashes and perhaps even the World Cup that follows, and another couple of England’s quickest, Olly Stone and Jamie Overton, are also on the injured list. Captain Ben Stokes has carried knee trouble for years.

Australia, it must be said, are also beset by concerns around Josh Hazlewood. After struggling with an Achilles problem in the early part of the year and using the IPL for recovery, he was due to fly home early from the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp due to a fresh flare-up.

One of the best prisms through which the Ashes contests of the past 20 years may be seen is that the successful side invariably has its best attack on the field for the longest period.'


Key bowlers missing in Ashes battles

2005: Glenn McGrath
2006-07: Simon Jones
2009: Stuart Clark
2010-11: Ryan Harris
2013: James Pattinson
2013-14: Graeme Swann
2015: Ryan Harris
2017-18: Mark Wood
2019: James Anderson
2021-22: Jofra Archer
2023: Jofra Archer

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Jack Leach (lower lumbar stress fracture) has been ruled out of the entire Ashes series.


"Since Brendon McCullum was appointed England coach..., Leach has claimed 45 wickets at an average of 38.2 from 12 matches.
...

But more vitally, he has sent down in excess of 500 overs in that period – more than any other Test bowler across that time frame – and held down an end..."

(cricket.com.au)

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England’s ordeal: Leach’s loss upstages Australia’s pace race

'... Moeen Ali has been called up to replace Leach two years after retiring from first-class cricket. Ali has 20 wickets against Australia in 11 Tests at an average of 65.

“Mo hasn’t played a red-ball game for an extended period of time,” McDonald said. “No doubt he’ll be prepared, he’s had a couple of weeks’ notice, but I think Jack Leach really complemented that attack and his wicket-taking ability and the way Ben Stokes has used him has been a little more aggressive and has reaped some great rewards. ...”'

(M. Conn, SMH)

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Stokes struggles to step up as Moeen says he’ll be ‘targeted’

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/stokes-struggles-to-step-up-as-moeen-says-he-ll-be-targeted-20230613-p5dgcd.html

'... Ben Stokes managed to bowl just a dozen balls at training on Tuesday...

Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson are expected to share the new ball after recovering from minor injuries.

Stokes has been battling chronic left knee tendonitis and the loss of spinner Jack Leach for the series with a back injury has compounded the problem of who will soak up the overs usually bowled by Stokes.
...

Moeen had not heard about Leach’s situation when Stokes texted him with a simple message: “Ashes?” Given it was two years since he had retired from first-class cricket, Moeen thought Stokes was joking and wrote back “lol”.

They played IPL together at Chennai and Stokes managed to talk Moeen into another shot at Test cricket after the off-spinner rejected an offer to tour Pakistan last December.
...

Moeen’s Test recall is an indictment on English county cricket, which among 18 counties hasn’t been able to produce another spinner worthy of representing their country. ...

Despite now playing only white ball cricket, particularly Twenty20, Moeen believes he will be a more thoughtful bowler against the Australians this time around.'

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^^^ But...

"... Ben Stokes ... bowled at match intensity earlier on Wednesday in the nets, albeit with heavy bandaging on his troublesome left knee..."

(cricket.com.au)

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So Moeen and Stokes both among the wickets...

Moeen 2/124 (29)
Stokes 1/33 (7)

Stokes had an ER of 4.71 but took the wicket of FTB.

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England call up 18-year-old leggie Rehan Ahmed as cover for injured Moeen Ali.

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Moeen was fit, but overlooked for an extra seamer.

On day 1, Pope and Warner were injured. Pope injured his shoulder diving in the field (after being banished from the slips for dropping a catch). Dunno if/where he'll bat. Warner will get scans on his hand after the Test.

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Ollie Pope has been ruled out of the remainder of the summer after dislocating his right shoulder at Lords.

England were angry at the umpires for forcing Pope to field again. The question was whether it was an "external" injury.

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"Cameron Green will miss the third Test starting today at Headingly but he is expected to be fit for the fourth Test.

Green has a low-grade hamstring strain and is expected to be fit in time to push for selection next match."

(M. Conn)

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Ollie Robinson had back spasms that forced him from the field on day 1. (Broad finished his over.)

Media dunno if he'll bowl in the Oz 2nd innings. But it's been reported that the last time he had back spasms, he missed the rest of the Test series.

Hahaha! Karma?! Couldn't have happened to a worse bloke!!

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Robinson took the field in the Oz 2nd innings but did not bowl.