Former Australian fast bowler John Hastings reveals his serious health condition

Former Australia paceman John Hastings has revealed that he is currently under the risk of long-term damage if he continues to bowl, due to a health issue. The 32-year-old will, therefore, have to be sidelined for the upcoming BBL 08. Hastings had signed with the Sydney Sixers in May this year. At present, doctors are looking closely to pinpoint the root cause of the problem.

Hastings, who earlier captained one of the top BBL sides Melbourne Stars, said he had undergone an extensive amount of testing but nevertheless has no idea as to why he’s suffering from this problem. His health condition has clearly placed his cricket career in jeopardy.

Speaking to RSN’s the Breakfast Club on Friday, John Hastings said, “It’s something that, over probably the last three or four months, has been a really difficult period for me. It’s basically every time I’ve been trying to gear up and get ready to bowl, I’ve been coughing up blood. What’s happened is basically I won’t be able to bowl this year or probably moving forward unless this sort of situation gets sorted out.”

‘I need a miracle’

“It’s pretty shattering. I’ve come to terms with it now, but over the last four or five months it’s been a very, very tough period. I’ve played this game my whole life and I wanted to keep playing it. I wanted to play tournaments all around the world. That’s one of the reasons I retired early from one-day and four-day cricket. At this stage, unless something miraculous happens, I won’t be able to bowl,” he added.

The Sydney Sixers are working with Hastings while he considers the possibilities of various treatment options. The pacer had represented Australia in one Test, 29 ODIs and nine T20Is. He spent a few years playing T20 leagues around the world and had a stint with two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders as well. Hastings spent seven years with the Stars before deciding to return home to New South Wales and play for the Sixers. He announced his retirement from one-day and four-day cricket in 2017.

Hastings first became aware of the problem several years ago and said he had ‘little episodes maybe once a season for a year or two’. However, his bleeding issue has ‘progressively gotten worse’ in recent months. The Australian is yet to uncover the cause of this life-threatening condition.