10 Cricketers Who Played Through Injuries

Sep 3, 2020 at 5:01 PM

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10 Cricketers Who Played Through Injuries

Indian captain MS Dhoni suffered an eye injury while batting against  Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on 22 June, 2016. In the final match of a three-match T20 series, India scored 138 batting first. With the series was leveled 1-1, India needed to win the match to win the series.

But while batting  Dhoni was bowled by  Donald Tripiano. But a flying bail struck on his right eye. Dhoni continued wicket-keeping with his injury. After India’s victory, it was seen that Dhoni’s eye has become red. In cricket, many cricketers suffered injuries but continued playing their role.

10 Cricketers Played Through Injuries

Anil Kumble

In 2002, on India’s tour of West Indies Anil Kumble showed grit and determination against the fiery fast bowlers of West Indies. In the Antigua Test while batting Kumble was hit in the mouth by a Mervyn Dillon lifter. Kumble spits out blood from his mouth, but he defied the pain and continued with batting. But before India started fielding, Kumble found his jaw broken and he could not play the series.

However, Kumble took part in the game and bowled 14 overs with a bandaged face. He took the wicket of Brian Lara.

Graeme Smith

In 2009 South Africa had played a hard-fought series in Australia. In the first match of the series South Africa chase down  414.  Dale Steyn performed both with the bat and ball that ensured South Africa a victory chasing down a record total.  But, the final Test of the series was a humdinger one.  Australia batting first scored 394 runs. In reply South African opener Graeme Smith started off well. He scored a run a ball 30, but, Mitchell Johnson’s lightning delivery hit on the finger of Smith. Smith had to leave the field with a broken finger.

South Africa was bundled out for 327. Australia scored 257 in the second innings and gave South Africa a 376 runs target to chase. At a fourth-innings pitch, it was a difficult job for South Africa to chase down the total. With Smith broke his finger South Africa didn’t get a good start. Smith came to bat at No. 9. But he could not manage to deny Australia a victory with a broken finger. South African were all out with nine overs remaining of the day.

Wahab Riaz

 

He has become the bowling spearhead of Pakistan over the years. Cricket fans around the world have seen his fiery spell  against Shane Watson in the quarterfinal game.  But, unfortunately, the left-arm fast bowler has suffered an injury on his hand while batting in the first innings of the second Test off the delivery of Dushmantha Chameera. He suffered a hairline fracture.  But with this injury, he continued with his bowling. He bowled nine over before pain  forced him to take rest. In the second innings, he batted at No. 11. After this match, he didn’t play the series.

Michael Clarke

 

In 2014 -2015 Australia were touring South Africa. It was another hard-fought series, this time in South Africa. Australia have won the first Test but the home side came back strongly in the next match.

Australian captain Michael Clarke had played one of the finest knocks of his career.  Batting first Australia posted 494 thanks to tremendous centuries from David Warner and Clarke.

Clarke had to suffer a torrid spell of pace and bounce from Morne Morkel and took repeated blows on the body. Clarke was unbeaten on 161, but it was not an easy hundred.

South Africa while chasing the total was bundled out for 287.  David Warner scored a hundred in the second innings that helped Australia to score 303 to leave South Africa to chase down an impossible 511 to win the match and the series.

South Africa lost the match and eventually the series, but after the end of the match, it was known that  Clarke suffered a broken shoulder, most likely taking a blow from Morkel’s one of the short balls.

Ian Bell

This is the only instance when a player suffered an injury in ODI cricket and continued with his role. In 2010B Bangladesh were touring England. Though, a defeat to Bangladesh considered as upset anymore. But in 2010 a defeat to Bangladesh was still considered as upset. Bangladesh batting first scored   237 in 50 overs. England were 227 for 9. They needed to score 10 run from the last over. Bell, who suffered an injury while fielding,   came to bat as a No. 11 with a broken foot.  With Jonathan Trott was batting on 90. Bell didn’t have to bat, but he had to take two singles.  Trott edged a boundary behind the wicketkeeper, but still, the bravery of Bell was not enough as Bangladesh have won the match by 5 runs at Bristol.

Gary Kirsten

In the 2003-2004 Lahore Test South Africans were touring Pakistan. In the Lahore Test, Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith opened the innings for South Africa.  The duo put a 52 run partnership. After Smith departed, No. 3 Kirsten walked into the field. But South Africa have to jolt with Kirsten blow.

Kirsten was in good form. But he tried to pull Shoaib Akhtar’s rising delivery which was beaten by pace and smashed on his face.  Kirsten bowed down to his knees, the Pakistani fielders rushed to him.  Kirsten on 53 retired hurt.  And x-ray soon revealed that his nose was broken.  South Africa scored 320 in the first innings. But Taufeeq Umar scored a hundred and Asif Kamal scored 99 that helped Pakistan to score 401.

In the second innings, South Africa lost four wickets 149. Kirsten came to bat. But he was barely recognizable with the bruise on his face. But he showed a grit and scored a prolific 46.  Pakistan have won the match but Kirsten’s heroic batting in the second innings received praise from the fans at the stands.

Malcolm Marshal

 

He is the greatest ever fast bowler in the history of cricket. In the 1986 England tour, his two fingers were broken on the first morning of the Headingley Test. England felt they have gotten a massive advantage. They scored 270 in the first innings with Allan Lamb scored 100 and Michael Holding took four wickets with 70 runs.

On Day three Larry Gomes and Michael Holding built an 80 run partnership that ensured West Indies the first-innings lead.  When Joel Garner was the ninth man to come to bat Gomes was batting on 96. The spectators thought that the match was going to be drawn.  But Marshal batting with one hand ensured Gomes’ hundred. English fielders smiled and Marshal also smiled them back.  But very soon the smile of English cricketers disappeared.

Marshall was the last man to out. But as England came to bat, Marshal started bowling with Garner.  He shocked England as he took seven wickets conceding 53 runs. England were all out for 159 as West Indies won the match by eight wickets in hand.  

Colin Cowdrey

The 1963 Lord’s Test between England and West Indies was one of the most thrilling Test matches of all time.  Right until the final over of the game, every possible result was on the cards. That it ended in a draw was almost poetic.

West Indies batting first scored 301 in the first innings with Rohan Kanhai and Joe Solomon scored the fifties, as Fred Trueman took six for 100. In response, Ken Barrington, Ted Dexter, and Fred Titmus took England to without four runs of West Indies’ total as Charlie Griffith ended with a figure of five for 91.

West Indies in the second innings bowled out for 229, with Basil Buther scored an excellent 133 and Truman took another fifer.  On day four of the match, England were 31 for three, Wes Hall bowled a typically thunderous delivery that struck Colin Cowdrey on his arm. There was the sound of pain everyone present could hear. Cowdrey’s right arm was broken, and he would be unable to continue.

Barrington and Brian Close then played out of their skins, spring terrific half-centuries to take England nearer and nearer. A late fightback from the West Indies pacers saw England suddenly lose a couple of wickets. England needed eight to win off the final over with two wickets in hand. With six to win three balls, Derek Shackleton was run out.  Cowdrey walked in with his arm plastered. With six runs needed from two balls and one wicket in hand, David Allen chose to block as the match ended in a memorable draw.

 

Bert Sutcliffe

It was one of the most emotional Test matches of all time. South Africa had won the match by 132 runs. But the match is known for the courage of a batsman.  South Africa scored 271. Neil Adcock and David Ironside bowled hostile spells. But on the second day, the news came of a tragic train accident in New Zealand which claimed the life of Kiwi cricketer Bob Blair’s fiancée.

Meanwhile, Adcock and Ironside made the ball talk.  One of the sharp rising delivery hit on the side of Sutcliffe’s head.  He was grounded and was admitted to the hospital.  There was no fracture, but it was seen that there was an earlobe split. There was a huge swell behind his ear. Doctors have asked Sutcliffe to take complete bed rest. But as New Zealand team start losing wickets. Sutcliffe resumed his innings. He scored an extraordinary 80, though his innings was not enough. South Africa easily won the match, but this match still remembered as  Sutcliffe’s courage on the field.

Rick  McCosker

Australian opener Rick McCosker faced the fury of  Bob Wills on the very first morning of the Centenary Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).  His jaw was broken. He was retired hurt. Australia were bowled out for 138. Australia  in the second innings scored 419 runs setting  557 runs for England to win the match.  Australia won the match, but the victory was not impossible without McCosker.

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