Injury to keep Tait out action

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait, who missed all but one of the five limited over internationals in the recently concluded Chappell-Hadlee series, is ruled out of action indefinitely as he is undergoing severe treatment to his injured left hamstring.

The last match Tait featured in was the first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand at Perth. Tait ended with figures of 2-40 from 10 overs in a losing effort to the visitors. The series was eventually tied at 2-2 after rain disrupted the final ODI.

The pacer, Tait, is undergoing a treatment which includes injecting blood into the affected hamstring in order to speed up the recovery process.
However, doctors are skeptical as to when Tait will be able to make his return to international cricket.

"Shaun has sustained a tendon injury to his left hamstring," South Australia physio John Porter was quoted as saying to an Australian daily.

"Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris and I have been working closely with Shaun on his rehabilitation program, which has included autologous blood injection treatment here in Adelaide.”

"He is recuperating well but there is no specified date for his return to cricket."

Tait joins a long list of injured players who did not travel to South Africa with the national team. Some of the key players in that list includes fast bowlers Brett Lee and Stuart Clark as well as all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

Australia is currently touring South Africa in a series which includes three Tests, two Twenty20 Internationals and five ODIs.

Apart from the tour to South Africa, the injury also casts a shadow of doubt over Tait’s participation in the second season of the Indian Premier League which gets underway in April.

At the recent IPL auctions held in Goa, Tait was purchased by last year’s winning franchise, Rajasthan Royals, for a sum of US $375,000.
But his injury and its subsequent recovery may rule him out of the tournament this year.