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Lance Morris, the Western Australia fast bowler, has encountered another injury setback, this time a quad strain during training. Despite this, there is optimism that his layoff will be brief, with Morris targeting a return to action by the end of October. The pacer, who was recovering from a back injury over the winter, had carefully managed his return to the field in late September. He made a promising start to the domestic season, picking up 3 for 42 in his first match against South Australia in the One-Day Cup at Cricket Central.
Morris had been preparing to continue his resurgence this season after an extended recovery period, but this latest injury will see him miss Western Australia’s next one-day game against Queensland, scheduled for Sunday. The Western Australia camp remains hopeful that the 25-year-old will be fit to return for their match against Tasmania at the WACA on October 25.
Injury Struggles and Comeback
Morris’ injury problems began last year, with a back injury that saw him spend a significant portion of time on the sidelines. This period of rehabilitation meant that his 2023-2024 season was interrupted. However, Morris has remained determined to return to full fitness and was looking forward to resuming regular cricket in the new domestic season. His return in September was seen as a significant milestone, as he was expected to feature prominently for Western Australia in both the One-Day Cup and the Sheffield Shield.
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Speaking to ESPNcricinfo about his struggles with injury, Morris explained, “It’s frustrating to have to stop for a couple of months. But the silver lining is that I’ve stayed fit and feel stronger than ever. If I ignored it and cracked on with things, there’s every likelihood I would spend 12 months on the sidelines.”
Despite the current quad strain, Morris remains upbeat about his recovery, stating that he is working closely with the physio team to ensure a quick return. This is especially important for him, as his performances could see him called up to the Australia A squad or even the national ODI side later this season.
Importance of Morris to Australia’s Plans
Morris made his international debut for Australia last season in a Test match against the West Indies. Since then, he has been considered a promising fast-bowling option for Australia, particularly in red-ball cricket. His ability to generate extreme pace makes him a valuable asset, and his presence has been felt in both the domestic and international circuits. While Morris hasn’t had a long run at the international level due to injuries, he remains highly regarded by the Australian selectors, who included him in the Test squad multiple times during the 2023-2024 season.
With Australia gearing up for a busy summer that includes the Test series against Pakistan and New Zealand, as well as the upcoming ODI series, Morris will be aiming to be fit in time to make his mark. If fully fit, he could find himself in contention for the Australia A team, which is set to play a four-day series against India A starting in early November.
Impact of the Quad Strain
For now, the quad strain will keep Morris out of Western Australia’s upcoming fixtures, including their one-day clash against Queensland on Sunday. The Western Australia squad remains hopeful that his injury won’t keep him sidelined for too long. The fast bowler had expressed a desire to play Sheffield Shield cricket early in the season, but the injury means he will not be available for the Shield match against Tasmania, scheduled for October 20.
However, there remains a slim chance that he will be fit in time for Western Australia’s next Shield match on November 1, which coincides with the start of the Australia A games. If Morris can demonstrate his fitness by then, he could potentially feature in either the domestic matches or for Australia A in their crucial games against India A.
Other Team News
While Morris recuperates, Mahli Beardman is in line to feature for Western Australia in the upcoming match against Queensland. Beardman, a promising talent, was a surprise call-up to Australia’s squad in England earlier this year but did not officially tour with the team. Despite only having played one professional game for Western Australia, Beardman’s inclusion in the squad has generated excitement about his potential impact.
The Western Australia squad for the one-day match against Queensland will be led by Ashton Turner and includes notable names such as Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, and Andrew Tye. Meanwhile, Queensland’s squad will be captained by Marnus Labuschagne and features experienced players such as Usman Khawaja, Michael Neser, and Matt Renshaw.
Squads for Western Australia vs Queensland, One-Day Cup
Western Australia: Ashton Turner (capt), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Hilton Cartwright, Josh Inglis, Bryce Jackson, Jhye Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman
Queensland: Marnus Labuschagne (capt), Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Lachlan Hearne, Usman Khawaja, Ben McDermott, Michael Neser, Matt Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker, Mitch Swepson, Tom Whitney, Jack Wildermuth
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