Image Credit- AFP
Fast bowler Kyle Jamieson of New Zealand will be out
for up to a year due to a second stress fracture to his back.
After taking six wickets in the first Test against South Africa, Jamieson
experienced soreness. He was unable to play in the second Test in Hamilton, and
scans later identified the problem.
Even though it’s a fresh fracture, the most recent injury is in the same back
region as the one he had surgery on earlier this year. This time, he is not
going to have an operation.
“The last few days have been some of my most
challenging but I am hugely grateful for the support I’ve received from my
partner, family, team-mates, support staff and medical professionals,”
Jamieson said in a statement. “I know injuries are part of life as a
cricketer and at my age I am hopeful I still have many more playing days ahead
of me.”
Speaking at a press conference later, Jamieson said the challenge of the
recovery was as much mental as physical.
“I’ve got a bit of a roadmap as to how to manage it,” he said.
“I know some of the hurdles I’ll have to overcome, probably more mentally
and emotionally, the physical side is the easy part. You just rest and build
back up. It’s almost autopilot in a way.
“It’s more the mental hurdles, months on end, you
are halfway through and a fair bit of time has gone and there’s still a fair
chunk of time away. It’s tough because you don’t want to go through it again.
You hope that each time is the last time but I’m also 6’8” and trying to bowl
fast, so know it’s definitely part of the journey.”
Jamieson indicated that when he returns from this latest injury there may need
to be an evaluation of how he prepares for red-ball cricket.
“There’s a couple of patterns over the last couple of years, which you
have to have these setbacks to notice them as patterns around the way you
build-up for red-ball cricket,” he said. “I’ve played professionally
for 10 years and my back’s been pretty good. History suggests that when you get
that process right there’s still a lot of cricket to be played. I get a huge
amount of hope from that. There’s been no healing issues in the past, it’s not
like I’m a slow healer or don’t heal, so I get hope from that.”