Injured Zaheer could miss most of the England series
July 22nd, 2011 - 1:55 pm ICT by IANSLondon, July 22 (IANS) India’s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan could miss most part of the four-match Test series as he suffered hamstring pull on the first day of the 100th Test against England at Lord’s here Thursday.
Zaheer, who was the most impressive bowler, pulled up half way through his 14th over and limped off the field and did not reappear, leaving India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni with just three front-line bowlers.
If a hamstring tear is diagnosed, Zaheer will need at least two weeks’ rest and that would rule him out of the entire series. Zaheer had also missed the West Indies series due to an ankle injury.
India coach Duncan Fletcher admitted that Zaheer’s injury was a blow.
“It is always difficult for a batsman on a wicket like that but Zaheer is really a clever bowler. Having chatted to him about his thoughts on how he bowls you see that he is a quality bowler and he showed it here. Zaheer bowled very well and him going off was a big blow. If he had stayed on he could have got us that third wicket, so it was a big loss for us,” said Fletcher.
Zaheer’s absence will be big bonus for the England batsmen, who found it difficult to handle and the left-arm pacer expectedly picked up England captain Andrew Strauss and his opening partner Alastair Cook.
Zaheer career has been plagued with injuries and he spent nearly two years to overcome a hamstring problem suffered on a tour of Australia in 2003.
- Zaheer rested in England's first innings at Lord's (Lead) - Jul 22, 2011
- Trott survives to score half-century, England 127/2 (Tea report) - Jul 21, 2011
- Zaheer's injury, a sign of excess cricket, say ex-skippers (Lead) - Jul 22, 2011
- Zaheer's injury, a sign of excess cricket, say ex-skippers - Jul 22, 2011
- Working with seniors will be a learning experience: Fletcher - Jun 17, 2011
- England deserve to overtake India as No.1: Allan Donald - Jul 27, 2011
- Lord's Test: Trott survives dropped chances to guide England to 127/2 (Roundup) - Jul 22, 2011
- Ganguly expects India to bounce back against England - Aug 08, 2011
- Never seen three pitches seam and swing so much: Fletcher - Aug 11, 2011
- Zaheer likely to miss second Test: Dhoni - Jul 26, 2011
- Fletcher defends Dhoni's decision to call off the match - Jul 11, 2011
- We can still turn it around: Dhoni - Aug 02, 2011
- Zaheer ruled out of England series, RP returns - Aug 07, 2011
- Never seen England pitches seam and swing so much: Fletcher (Lead) - Aug 11, 2011
- The match is pretty even, says Fletcher - Jul 22, 2011
Tags: absence, andrew strauss, ankle injury, batsman, bonus, bowlers, duncan fletcher, england captain, england series, India, left arm, mahendra singh dhoni, match, pace, pacer, spearhead, test series, west indies, wicket, zaheer