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Warne out for four to six weeks minimum
CricInfo - 15 December 2002

The only problem for the Australians at the end of the VB Series match in Melbourne which they won by 89 runs was Shane Warne's injured shoulder. The leg-spinner landed awkwardly as he dived to his right after bowling a ball to Craig White that was driven back past him.

Australian Cricket Board physiotherapist Errol Alcott said Warne's injured right shoulder had been put back into place in the dressing room and he would see a specialist.

"It was put back in by the ACB medical (staff) and it went in pretty well so we're happy about that," Alcott said.

"Now we need to just wait and see if there is any further damage. First of all we need to establish if there is any bony injury so we need to get some plain X-rays done on it and then he'll be seen by a shoulder specialist who's actually done his surgery before.

"Our main concern is his prior history. He's had surgery on that shoulder before so we need to have a look and see if there is perhaps further damage done to that already damaged joint.

"We're looking at four to six weeks to start with. He might be out for more than six but it depends if there is anything else injured. If there is something more then we'd probably have to add on the weeks."

Australian captain Ricky Ponting told reporters: "It's pretty safe to say he will be out for quite a while yet. It was a sad thing to happen in a great game and we don't know the full extent of it yet."

England captain Nasser Hussain could not hide his disappointment as his side suffered yet another defeat on this Australian tour. This was the 13th match played and the team is looking for their first win. Chasing 318 for six from the Australians, England were bowled out - an run out - for 229.

"Obviously we were out-played on a belter of a wicket, probably the best wicket we have played on out here," said Hussain. "We did not have much to hit them with a young attack but to have three run outs in the first seven is not good enough.

"We should have got at least 280 and the run outs did not help our cause at all. On a good wicket you can play shots and Knight has looked in good nick. He played well (for his 70) and so did the lads down the order but it was too little too late when chasing 318.

"I don't mind nicks but run outs are not good enough. It sends signals out of soft dismissals and how we value our wickets. It's not where we want to be."

England now have two matches to turn their tour around. They have matches in Brisbane on Tuesday and Perth next Friday – both against Sri Lanka – when Hussain will want results to leave them in with a chance of making the finals of the VB Series. According to Hussain, England must put the defeats by Australia behind them and concentrate on these games.

"We have got to put that behind us. We've got two crucial games coming up. If we're going to get anything out of this winter we've got to start turning it around and we've got an opportunity to do that in Brisbane.

"We've got to try to have a new mentality. We can't take any baggage into a series against Sri Lanka. You've got to remember we'll still have a young bowling attack and they will be tested against the likes of Jayasuriya, Atapattu and Jayawardene. It's going to be a battle."

© CricInfo


This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.