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Langer suggests IPL to blame for injury-wracked Test series
BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 13, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Australia coach Justin
Langer suggested Wednesday the delayed Indian Premier League was to blame for
so many injuries marring Australia’s blockbuster series’ with India.
The short-form extravaganza normally begins in March, but along with other
major international sporting events was postponed as countries went into
coronavirus lockdowns.
It was then moved to the United Arab Emirates as cases rose in India and
only got under way on September 19, culminating on November 11.
Players then had to go through a 14-day quarantine in Australia with the
one-day series starting almost immediately after they were allowed out.
“It’s really interesting how many injuries there have been throughout this
summer,” said Langer.
“We suffered through it during the white-ball series and (India) through
the Test series.
“We’ll review this, but I can’t help think that the IPL this year probably
wasn’t ideal timing for anyone, certainly for such a big series like this.”
David Warner and Marcus Stoinis were among Australians injured during the
white-ball series.
India were then depleted during the high-stakes Tests series, which
culminates with the final match of four in Brisbane this week.
They have lost experienced fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav,
along with batsman KL Rahul, while allrounder Ravindra Jadeja is the latest
to be ruled out with a dislocated thumb.
There are fitness doubts over batsman Hanuma Vihari for the Gabba Test
after he tore a hamstring in the second innings at Sydney on Monday, with
spinner Ravi Ashwin nursing a back issue and reports in Indian media saying
that fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could miss out with a side strain.
“I love the IPL. I look at the IPL now like I used to look at (English)
county cricket for young players, you go and play county cricket and it helps
their development enormously,” said Langer.
“I think it’s the same with the IPL with our players, it helps their white-
ball development.
“But the timing of it … probably wasn’t ideal and I wonder if that’s
having an impact on the injuries we are seeing for both teams throughout this
summer.”
BSS/AFP/SSS/1608 hrs