Injured Praveen out of Australia Tests

Praveen Kumar, the India medium-pacer, has been ruled out of the on-going ODI series against West Indies as well as the Tests in Australia starting next month because of a fractured rib. Praveen had a scan on Monday which revealed the fracture, and is expected to be out for five to six weeks. A replacement will be named for the Tests in Australia on December 5.

The Indian selectors, who had meetings on consecutive days last week to pick squads for the ODIs against West Indies and the Test leg of the Australia tour, had included Praveen for both the series. But in an interesting twist of events Sanjay Jagdale, the BCCI secretary, informed Kris Srikkanth, the chairman of selectors, on Sunday afternoon that Praveen had suffered from a 'blunt chest'. Karnataka fast bowlerAbhimanyu Mithun was immediately appointed as a replacement.

According to the original BCCI media release sent on Monday evening, Praveen had been ruled out for the first three ODIs of the West Indies series. This came after Virender Sehwag, the stand-in Indian captain for the first three matches, had said on the eve of the Cuttack ODI that Praveen would be available for the second match as he was suffering from "a niggle".

It is understood that the selectors had no clue about Praveen's original injury when they had drafted his name in the squads for the two squads. "On the day of the selection if there is no adverse fitness report then you assume they are fit. If you have not reported you are unfit you are assumed to be fit," a BCCI official informed ESPNcricinfo. According to him the turn of events in Praveen's case caught the selection committee completely by surprise. "The selectors only came to know a day after the Mumbai Test (which ended three days ago)," the official pointed out.

This is the second time this year Praveen has had the misfortune of missing out on a crucial series. Earlier this year a tennis elbow injury ruined his chances of participating in the World Cup. Though he picked anankle injury at the back end of the England tour, he was India's best bowler in the four-Test Pataudi Trophy. The elbow injury troubled him again after the Twenty20 match against England in Kolkata in late October. Consequently Praveen asked the Indian board for a two-week rest. He did play in a Ranji Trophy league match for Uttar Pradesh against Saurashtra in Meerut earlier this month to show his fitness. © ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Yuvraj battling non-malignant tumour

	Yuvraj Singh has been battling a non-malignant tumour on his lung, in addition to his on-field injuries © Getty Images

Yuvraj Singh, the India allrounder, had asked the BCCI not to consider him for selection for the ODI series against West Indies because he has been recovering from what his family has called an "illness that threatened his career," caused by an "abnormal tumour" on his lung.

According to a statement released by his mother, Shabnam Singh, Yuvraj had been troubled by bouts of coughing and vomitting during the 2011 World Cup but had ignored the problem during the tournament, "assuming it was due to stress."

When the problem persisted after the World Cup, Yuvraj sought medical advice and tests revealed "a golf-ball sized" growth on his left lung, the statement said. Initial reports had suggested that Yuvraj "had what in medical terms is called an abnormal tumor called lymphoma. The danger was, we were told, that it could be malignant."

Early medical treatment and therapy led to Yuvraj feeling better than he did during the World Cup and he "was eager to resume his India duties." However, after returning from the tour of England due to a finger injury sustained during the Nottingham Test, Yuvraj went through several rounds of tests, scans and a recent biopsy in order to ascertain the exact nature of the tumour. "Further reports have indicated that the tumour is non-malignant and non-threatening and can be treated through proper medication and therapy. In medical terms, Yuvraj is now in a much better state and on his way to a full recovery."

Yuvraj had informed the BCCI president N Srinivasan of the findings and wanted to regain his fitness. It was why he had "sought some more time ... and asked not to be considered for selection in the one-dayers versus West Indies."

In the statement Yuvraj's mother said he "did not want to rush things, wants to be 100% fit before resuming his cricket for India and has started working hard on both his fitness and his cricket. He is already preparing himself to play the one-day series in Australia."

Yuvraj was not included in the Test squad for the tour of Australia. © ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Sachin Tendulkar ruled out of ODI series with toe injury

New Delhi: India's nightmarish outing in England continues as Sachin Tendulkar has been ruled out of the ODI series with a toe injury.

He is the eighth player to be injured on the current tour and has been advised rest for 4 weeks.

Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the rest of the series after having his hand fractured by the first ball he faced from Stuart Broad and Manoj Tiwary was named as his replacement on Sunday.

These two injuries are the latest in a long list that wrecked India's chances in the Test series where they were beaten 4-0.

Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambir and Ishant Sharma have all been invalided out of the tour leaving MS Dhoni's resources stretched.

Praveen Kumar, who had also missed the last Test due to ankle injury, however, recovered in time to be back for the ODIs.

Tahir advised 10 days' rest; unlikely to play against India

South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir was today rendered doubtful starter for Saturday's high-octane World Cup clash against India as he has been advised 10 days' rest to recover from a thumb fracture.


In pic: Imran Tahir during a training session © Getty Images

Tahir sustained the injury to his left hand during his side's six-run defeat against England in Chennai on March 6. "It was a chipped fracture. Scans have been sent back to South Africa and the period of recovery recommended is for 10 days. Imran bowled in the nets this morning and he's fine because the injury is not on the bowling hand. "The selectors will decide when the 10-day period starts, whether it starts now or after the game against India. Imran is pretty much part of the World Cup squad," South African team manager Mohammed Moosajee told reporters here today.

The Pakistan-born 31-year-old spinner has been a revelation in the World Cup so far, taking 11 wickets in three matches, the highest by a South African in the tournament. He is behind Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi, who has 15 wickets from four matches. Asked specifically whether Tahir will play the match against India, Moosajee said, "As of now he is available for selection. It's entirely on the selectors to take a call when to give him the rest. It may be decided on the day of the match."

South Africa are likely to name off-spinner Johan Botha as replacement if Tahir misses the match against India. The Proteas' last two matches at group stage are against Ireland on March 15 and Bangladesh on March 19 while the knock-out stage begins from March 23. Tahir made his international debut in this World Cup after qualifying to play for his adopted country through marriage in January. —PTI

South Africa suffer Tahir injury scare

South Africa suffered a World Cup injury scare on Wednesday when in-form leg-spinner Imran Tahir fractured his left thumb.

In pic: Imran Tahir at South Africa's training session © Getty Images

"Imran injured himself during the game against England while attempting the caught and bowled, which dismissed Jonathan Trott," said Proteas manager Mohammed Moosajee.

"The X-Ray revealed a small undisplaced fracture in his left thumb. The images have been sent home to Cricket South Africa's medical committee and we are waiting for the hand specialist, Dr Mike Solomons, to give us an opinion.

"His thumb has been splintered and immobilised and a decision on what happens further will be made in the next two days."

Tahir is the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker with 11 victims in three matches.

South Africa, who lost by just six runs to England, tackle India on Saturday. —AFP

Knee injury rules Dwayne Bravo out of World Cup

The West Indies suffered a major setback as all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was Friday ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury.

In pic: Dwayne Bravo was helped from the field after injuring his knee © AFP

"He has been ruled out due to cartilage damage in the left knee," a West Indies team official confirmed.

The West Indies have already petitioned the International Cricket Council's technical committee for a replacement.

Bravo twisted his knee as he slipped on his follow through while bowling during the match against South Africa here Thursday.

Bravo immediately went off the field and was attended to by the physio. He did not return to the feild.

After a scan Friday, it emerged that he will need at least four weeks of rest to recover from the injury.

He is the third West Indies player to be ruled out of the World Cup. Wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh and opening batsman Adrian Barath were injured in the warm-up matches and were replaced by Devon Thomas and Kirk Edrwards.

The West Indies lost the first match against Sout Africa by seven wickets and face The Netherlands (Feb 28, Delhi), Bangladesh (March 4, Dhaka), Ireland (March 11, Mohali), England (March 17, Chennai) and India (March 20, Chennai). —IANS

Injured Bollinger out of World Cup

	Doug Bollinger joins Australia's long list of injured players© Getty Images

Australia's injury worries have worsened with Doug Bollinger to be sent home from the World Cup due to an ankle injury that may require surgery. The Australians came to India already missing Michael Hussey, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty and Shaun Marsh due to injuries, but Bollinger is the first member of the squad to be flown home mid-tournament.

Bollinger suffered pain in his left ankle during the first warm-up game against India and although the soreness eased and he was available for Monday's match against Zimbabwe, the problem intensified when the team arrived in Nagpur. Peter Siddle would be the logical replacement for Bollinger, but the selectors have not yet decided on who should join the squad.

The ICC has also confirmed that withdrawn players can return to replace other injured men, meaning the door has been opened for Michael Hussey to make a potential dash to the World Cup. However, the Australians would most likely prefer a backup fast bowler to replace Bollinger, with John Hastings the only reserve seamer in the touring party.

"He's got a thing called posterior impingement," Australia's physio Alex Kountouris said. "Basically, the bones at the back of the ankle, when he lands to bowl, one bone hits another bone and the bone becomes really inflamed and irritated. It irritates all the soft tissue around it as well. It's fairly common in fast bowlers.

"Brett Lee has had five or six lots of surgery on that in the past. It's reasonably common but he [Doug] has never had it before, so we thought we'd push it for as long as we could go, and he just can't go any further at the moment. We need to take him out of cricket for a while, whether he needs just rest or needs other treatment, maybe even surgery, that will be decided in the next few days."

Bollinger will have scans in Australia to determine whether he will need an operation and if that is required, he will have several months to recover before Australia's next Test tour, to Sri Lanka in August. The problem first appeared towards the end of the recent one-day series against England, but the pain did not become significant until the team was preparing for the match against New Zealand.

"It was only when he bowled yesterday here it became really sore again," Kountouris said. "He tried bowling again today and he was really sore today, so based on that, based on the sort of injury it is we're going to send him back to Australia and look at what our options are for treatment."

Shaun Tait, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson, again proved themselves a formidable trio by dismissing New Zealand for 206 on Friday. The selectors will decide which player will join them over the next few days. © ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Roof comes off at Sawai Mansingh stadium

Jaipur: (PTI) The roof of the north-west stand at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium which is currently hosting the India-New Zealand ODI match came down, injuring four to five people, here today. The incident happened just after New Zealand's first innings got over here. "The roof came down all of a sudden. around 4-5 people were injuried but there was nothing serious. It lead to a little scramble in the stands but there weren't reports of any untoward incident," a volunteer in the stadium said. Batting first, New Zealand posted 258 for eight against India in the second ODI of the five-matchs series.