IRYMPLE cricket co-coach Bryson Lush must have walked under a few ladders.
After four months of rehabilitation following a shoulder surgery, the 25-year-old tore his left quad fielding just five overs into Saturday’s clash with Mildura West at Henshilwood Oval.
It was just his second game back in action after missing the opening three contests of the season.
While the grade of the tear was yet to be determined, the joint winner of the 2019-20 Innes Medal hoped the best-case scenario was a return to the field following the Christmas break.
“I was chasing a ball that went towards the boundary and it was only about the fourth or fifth step I felt it go,” he said.
“I started looking around for the sniper that must have been in the Leisure Centre. I’ve had a couple of tweaks but nothing like this one.
“I had surgery in July, a clean out for the shoulder after a dislocation and still am rehabbing that. It felt alright last week, even though we lost against East I made it through unscathed, and then this happened.
“Fingers crossed it’s only a low grade tear and I can come back after Christmas and attack the second half of the season.”
Lush’s injury will leave Irymple one batsman short in their run chase against West. After dismissing West for 125, the Swallows require 49 more runs to win after finishing the day at 4/77. Bailey Anderson (1) and Matt Austin (0) are currently at the crease.
“I’ve got confidence in the guys out there that we can get the job done,” Lush said.
“Bailey has come in as nightwatchman but he can bat. Through juniors he’s always been a good run scorer, he just hasn’t quite put it together in firsts, but this can give him some time at the crease.
“‘Austy’ is a great bat as well, and then we still have ‘JP’ (Jordan Payne) and ‘Jacko’ (Jarrad Armsden) who are experienced batters to come.”
Lush said a silver lining from the injury was that he can develop as a coach without having to worry about his own game for the time being.
“I did find that over the first few weeks as well and I think it should give a broader perspective of what’s happening,” he said.
“It will also give me a chance to watch some other grades as well.”
