Best Injured XI among current players

Well, in today’s age of cricket, injures are very common and uncertain. As a player, if you are overexerting or are underwhelmed with game time, you are bound to break your body. In fact for the multi-format players, their on-field playing time is strictly now determined by the injury or workload management procedures. However, if a particular level of injury is chronic and interminable then having hiatuses in your career is also a regular affair. For example, in Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s case, the pacer is known to have a frail lower body that possibly has ended his Test career. Perhaps for all our beloved speedsters, injuries are inevitably their best bunnies. Hence in this list, let’s make the best-injured XI amongst a current lot of players in international cricket 1. Rohit Sharma (c) Rohit Sharma. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) For Rohit Sharma, his lower body hasn’t been in the best of shape since 2020. In the past two years, the 34-year old has unfortunately plagued himself either with hamstring or calf issues. Initially while playing the 2020 T20I series in NZ, Rohit had injured his calf while taking a run in the 5th game. Though the issue was perceived to be minor, the cricketer woefully then missed the entire tour. However, later on, after the pandemic, the IPL 2020 again made hitman injury prone. In the midseason of MI’s campaign, Rohit sustained a hamstring tear that regrettably made him miss the entire white-ball and two red-ball games in Australia. Perhaps his initial omission from the tour itself became a controversial point especially considering his presence in the IPL 2020 knockouts. Nevertheless, even recently while playing the Test series in England, Rohit had discomfort in his left knee and was assumed to opt-out of the final Test. All in all, with the batter now again pertaining to a similar issue it certainly infects the longevity of his remaining career. 2. Shubman Gill Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: Getty Images) As a 22-year old, there’s no doubt that Shubman Gill has made massive strides in his limited opportunities. By opening in red-ball cricket, Gill also potentially gives an option of being a middle-order batsman. However, unfortunately, the cricketer in 2021 has got racked with a serious set of injuries. During the WTC final in Southampton, Gill was carrying a shin injury that certainly omitted him from the entire tour of England. By playing the final, the batter endured a shin stress fracture that kept him out of action for almost four months. In fact, despite taking a long break, the injury has again affected the batter’s fitness and selection. While playing the second Test against NZ at home, Gill received a stress-related fracture on his shin during fielding. By encountering some blows on his ankle and elbow, the injury seemed to have got aggravated. Sadly even this time, the youngster is assumed to miss games for three months. Overall, with team India’s all red-ball openers now scoring runs, it is unlikely that Gill will receive his opening position back. 3. Kane Williamson Kane Williamson. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) In recent times even Kane Williamson has routinely faced the heat of a chronic injury. An injured elbow that has troubled the Kiwi skipper since the start of 2021 almost demanded a surgery off late. Perhaps the concern had first become a big talking point when Bangladesh toured NZ last time. However, in the entire 2021, Williamson took multiple pauses to restore his elbow. In the IPL’s first half, he missed games for SRH and also opted out from ‘The Hundred’ competition. In Test cricket, the 30-year old omitted himself from the Edgbaston game and also was benched in the Mumbai Test. Overall, even in terms of his preparations in the 2021 World T20, Williamson had curbed himself from overexerting and practising. In fact by playing the three league stage games in 5 days almost resulted in serious consequences for the batter. Hence we hope that in 2022, Williamson’s elbow issue becomes the thing of the past. 4. Sam Billings (wk) Sam Billings of England celebrates reaching his century. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) As a regular wicket-keeper batter, Sam Billings has unluckily got brimmed with two heavy injuries. Firstly in 2019 when Billings was playing county cricket, he, unfortunately, had dislocated his shoulder. Perhaps such a large issue also cost him his place in the 2019 World Cup. By captaining Kent in the Royal London Cup, the 30-year old sadly experienced the issue that almost pulled him out for five months. By enduring extreme pain, some oxygen aid was also provided to take him off-field. However after an attack on his shoulder, the gloveman again recently sustained an injury while playing an ODI game in Pune. In the 1st ODI, while attempting to save a boundary, Billings sprained his collar joint that thankfully didn’t affect his shoulder. Overall, we hope that in his future endeavours, Billings enjoys sturdy fitness and a strong shoulder. 5. Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Well, undoubtedly the fitness of Hardik Pandya is now a billion-dollar question in Indian cricket. Since the Asia Cup of 2018, the junior Pandya had sustained a back injury that has inevitably cost him his bowling skills. Though the cricketer is now trying to heal himself completely, his overall fitness has become a sensitive subject. Even in the 2021 World T20, the all-rounder while playing against Pakistan had got hit on the shoulder that fortunately wasn’t a big issue. However, in the IPL’s second leg, Hardik had missed a few games and was found struggling with his batting form. Comprehensively, despite going through back surgery in 2020, Hardik is yet to regain his full fitness. Agonizingly, the 28-year old has also endured an exit from the MI franchise when it comes to the IPL 2022. 6. Angelo Mathews Angelo Mathews. (Photo Source: Getty Images) For Angelo Mathews, his lower body malfunction is a big issue and certainly has dwelled him at the twilight of his career. Undoubtedly from 2015 onwards, Mathews has faced a plethora of body issues that also have contemplated a retirement option. Primarily it’s the calf and the hamstring trouble that has been a long-standing annoyance. However barring them, even the quads and other thighs muscles have now unsettled Mathews in recent times. Lately while playing the Test match against WI, the 34-year old sadly sustained a thigh strain. Fortunately, the veteran was seen back playing the LPL but now his international days look surely numbered. Overall, despite shedding some kilos in 2019, the past two years have again taken a retest of his full fitness. Maybe featuring as much as possible in 2022, could be the all-rounder’s last resort in international cricket. 7. Mitchell Marsh Australian cricketer Mitchell Marsh. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images) Well, just like Angelo Mathews, even Mitchell Marsh’s international career has got stormed with injury setbacks. From 2017 onwards, the all-rounder has persisted in a very serious ankle problem followed by a broken hand in 2019. In fact, despite undergoing two surgeries since 2018, Marsh has barely been part of a full home summer till recently. In terms of his recent injury events, the cricketer in 2020 got himself injured in the first game for SRH. By rolling over his ankle, Marsh was immediately omitted from the entire 2020 season. Perhaps though the 29-year old was then back playing the BBL, he had pulled himself out from the 2021 IPL season. Overall, the break from the IPL 2021 actually did wonders for him as his all-round skills helped Australia remarkably win the 2021 World T20. Even in the ongoing BBL, Marsh has been amassing runs at an average of 85. 8. Andre Russell Andre Russell. (Photo Source: Twitter) Much after his anti-doping year-long ban in 2017, Andre Russell has now endured a complex knee issue. From late 2018 onwards, Russell firstly had missed the big-ticket event like the 2019 World Cup despite undergoing a strong rehab. The all-rounder, who is one of the vital cogs of KKR, also recently missed the knockouts of IPL 2021. Perhaps with now playing the BBL, the Jamaican looks to be in a better shape. However, for KKR, the 33-year old’s services have been very mediocre in the past two seasons. Even in the 2021 World T20, the batter produced barely any Russell-Muscle shows especially when it mattered the most. In fact, throughout his chronic knee disorder, many fans have accused Russell of faking and not being sincere. Even each of his limp, tumble or an early exit from the ground has raised serious question marks regarding his commitment. In general, we hope that in 2022, this WI herculean exhibits the best of what’s stored inside him. 9. Anrich Nortje Anrich Nortje. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images) If you are a pacer who bowls consistently at 150 plus, then sustaining niggles and strains are a regular affair. Currently, SA’s ace speedster Anrich Nortje is out of action in the ongoing Test series against India. As per reports, Nortje had developed some niggles after the 2021 World T20 including a hip injury. However in the past, the 28-year old has been injury-prone after playing truckloads of cricket games. In the year 2019, Nortje had missed two big-ticket events like the IPL and the 2019 World Cup. Even at that time, the cricketer was plagued with a string of injuries. Before the 2019 World Cup, Nortje had received a fracture in his right thumb. Perhaps even before making his international debut, the Protea pacer had overcome ankle and shoulder concerns. Overall, now after his omission from the Test series, the spearhead is expected to be selected for the ODIs. 10. Lockie Ferguson Lockie Ferguson. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images) For NZ cricket, Lockie Ferguson is not only their fastest speedster but also a valuable wicket-taking option. In the 2019 World Cup, Ferguson was only second to Australia’s Mitchell Starc in terms of scalping most wickets. The ace bowler by being an active T20 freelancer also loves participating in big T20 competitions. However for the past year, the 30-year old has suffered two unsettling injuries. Firstly in late December 2020, Ferguson discovered a partial stress fracture in his back while playing against WI at home. The disorder kept the pacer away from the game for an extended period of almost six weeks. Perhaps just recently before the mega event of the T20 World Cup, Ferguson also endured a grade two tear in his calf. While feeling the tightness in the injured area, the Kiwi was then seen out of action for at least three weeks. Hopefully, now Ferguson is back and is positively playing the local domestic games. 11. Jofra Archer Jofra Archer. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Unfortunately for Jofra Archer, the year 2021 was a very heartbreaking year. The pacer who had made a promising start to his international career barely played barring the first three months. In fact, since his last appearance in March 2021, Archer has just been recovering from his elbow blow. Initially in January 2021, the 26-year old had received a big cut in one of his fingers while cleaning a fish tank at home. However though the cut was well managed during the India tour, Archer still had to again fix the stiff finger. But overall his long-standing elbow injury which had previously undergone an operation was again treated to relieve the stress fracture. In fact, the upcoming tour of WI was supposed to be the comeback series of Jofra Archer in 2022. But sadly after again getting operated, the ace England spearhead will now only resume again from the 2022 English summer. Overall a hiatus of almost a year has definitely created worrying issues regarding the future of the speedster’s career.

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Best Injured XI among current players

For all our beloved speedsters, injuries are inevitably their best bunnies.

6. Angelo Mathews

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