Australia’s T20I player of the year, Jason Behrendorff, is out for eight weeks after fracturing his left fibula in a training accident. The injury occurred while he was preparing for the IPL with Mumbai Indians and has ruled him out of the tournament. This setback has dealt a blow to his hopes of making it into Australia’s T20 World Cup squad.
During a net session at the WACA ground, Behrendorff was struck by a ball just above his left ankle, resulting in a fractured leg. Although he does not require surgery, the recovery timeline has forced him to miss the IPL. Mumbai Indians have replaced him with England’s Luke Wood, highlighting the impact of Behrendorff’s absence on their bowling depth.
Behrendorff had an impressive last 12 months, taking eight wickets in five matches with an economy rate of 6.60. Despite missing out on the recent T20I series in New Zealand, he was considered a strong backup option for Mitchell Starc in the World Cup squad. He is now focused on recovering in time to participate in the T20 Blast in England, which begins on May 31.
ESPNcricinfo associate editor Alex Malcolm reported on the unfortunate injury that has sidelined Behrendorff and impacted his chances of representing Australia in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
This setback has certainly put a damper on Behrendorff’s hopes of making it onto Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. With only eight weeks to recover before the tournament starts, it may be difficult for him to regain his form and fitness before then.
Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about his chances of returning to action before May 31st and competing in the T20 Blast. If he can manage to recover fully and perform well during this tournament, it could help solidify his position as a backup option for Starc and other Australian players heading into next year’s World Cup.
