Australia’s in-form allrounder Glenn Maxwell has been concussed after falling off a golf cart and will miss the World Cup clash against England.
Maxwell is under concussion protocols for up to eight days after his second freak accident in the past year.
Last November, Maxwell broke a leg when he slipped while pretending to chase a friend at a birthday party.
His latest mishap came during the cup in India when, after playing golf with teammates on Monday, he fell off a cart transporting players to the team bus.
“There was an unfortunate accident at a team golf day on Monday in which Glenn Maxwell fell from a golf cart and suffered a concussion,” a Cricket Australia (CA) spokesman said on Wednesday.
“Maxwell has been assessed by CA medical staff and been ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup match against England.
“The accident occurred during a scheduled day off. There is no further injury, beyond the concussion.”
Maxwell will continue to be assessed ahead of Australia’s match against England on Saturday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Glenn Maxwell celebrates his century. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
His injury paves the way for allrounder Marcus Stoinis to return from a calf ailment while also easing selection pressure on Marnus Labuschagne.
Labuschagne had been tipped to be replaced by Stoinis, if proven fit, or Cameron Green for the fixture against England.
Maxwell’s absence also robs captain Pat Cummins of a bowling option with the offspinner taking four wickets so far in the tournament.
Maxwell’s middle-order batting power will also be sorely missed – he smacked the fastest World Cup century, from just 40 balls, against the Netherlands on October 24.
The Victorian followed that record feat with 41 from just 24 deliveries in Australia’s five-run win against New Zealand last Saturday.
Australia, with three group games remaining, are fourth in the overall standings and in the box seat to secure a semi-final spot.
After meeting arch-foe England, the Australians play Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Most likely cause BUT we're purely guessing, so Maxwell and team management get the benefit of the doubt.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Who doesn’t think alcohol was a factor
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
We obviously need to dumb this down. My original point was that it's hard to screw up in a golf cart. I said driving but any location is relevant. If you're hanging on to the back of a golf cart, you're being even more stupid than somebody hanging out of a cart when seated properly.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They do but they don't have one. Giving the ball to proper bowlers is essential over relying on part timers. You can't bowl well with fingers crossed.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Marsh was the 4th pace bowler I was referring to. He bowled ahead of Green last up with that in mind. Is he a viable option? That's somewhat irrelevant. My point is that Australia need to play a second spinner who can be relied upon to bowl 10 good overs, so the Green vs Stoinis argument is a moot point.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The 3 NSW quicks are not viable options. Who is your 4th? Only Hazlewood is performing. If Maxwell is unable to bowl, the alternative is not occasional mediums like Stoinis and Marsh and it is certainly not Labuschagne, Head or Smith trying to match it with class batsmen. Green is a genuine front-line bowler. He must play. He should be bowling ahead of the desperately lost Cummins
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
It really doesn't. Surely you can grasp that it's far easier to stay on a buggy that you are driving compared to hanging off the back of it... Cuckoo. Cuckoo?
Jimmyshiz
Roar Rookie
Just an excuse to make the changes they wanted to without the responsibility.
Fruitpicker
Roar Rookie
Yeah, blame the Indians when logic fails. Warney used to blame Delhi belly and talk up taking cartons of baked beans. Then IPL started and he raked in money as a player/commentator. No Delhi bellies anymore.
Fruitpicker
Roar Rookie
How can the Poms ever be a “crunch match”? A slippery banana skin, perhaps, but the Aussies should be sleepwalking through that match. Most other teams have. Otherwise, you don’t deserve to be in the playoffs, mate.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
speculation = confirmation bias no thanks
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
i heard he was holding on to the back as their weren't enough carts risk taken is risk invited. oh well, always a team player, gives others a chance to shine. because the selectors won't
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Australia have four pace options already, and they just lost one of their only two realistic spin options. Green's a better option than Stoinis, but neither are the player they need for this game.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Hopefully it doesn’t cost us 3rd spot
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Just makes it more stupid, so reinforces my point. Unless you’re determined not to grasp it
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Easy to see why batsmen in Perth learn to play off the back foot. If you can't, you die!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Fletcher Park, Dennis Lillee's old haunt is very quick.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I've only watched one grade game in Perth and that was at Scarborough. Has to be the fastest, bounciest grade wicket I've ever seen
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yes. It’s hard to find a good sports journo at a press conference. Way too much ingratiating oneself. Two old test cricketers in WA, Wayne Clark on SportFM and Kim Hughes on ABC in WA have a few more choice comments. Clark is coach of Green’s district club, Subiaco- Floreat. Just on Subi-Floreat, another all rounder in the WA Shield squad, Hamish McKenzie took a lazy 8/30 on the weekend. Bats#4, bowls left arm leggies.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
The part I don't understand is why the media isn't asking obvious questions like, why isn't Green playing? Why is Stoinis a preferred choice when Australia has issues with its batting? I commented elsewhere Cummins is strong when it comes to dealing with the media, but they in turn don't seem inclined to ask the hard questions. Cummins certainly has them bluffed.