England pacer Ball suffers ankle injury
MELBOURNE, November 9
England pace bowler Jake Ball has sent an injury scare through his team in their Ashes run-up after injuring his ankle during their game against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide. Ball bowled just four balls of his fourth over before he limped off Adelaide Oval, where the tourists are playing a pink ball match in preparation for the five-Test series, which begins at the Gabba in Brisbane on Nov. 23.
The 26-year-old Ball collapsed in his delivery stride after he twisted his right ankle. He received treatment on the field and was able to walk off the field unassisted, but was limping.
England’s pace bowling stocks took a hit earlier this week when Steve Finn was ruled out of the tour with a knee injury and replaced by Tom Curran.
Maxwell keen to shed ‘X-factor’ label
Glenn Maxwell is tired of people harking back to his explosive power hitting in limited overs cricket and says he wants to be recognised for his more measured form as he fights to secure Australia’s number six batting spot for the Ashes series. The 29-year-old off-spinning all-rounder scored two half centuries in Victoria’s recent Sheffield Shield match against South Australia and while he was annoyed at failing to convert them to centuries he was happy with his approach. “I think (selectors) made it pretty clear that they wanted the top six batters in the country and I want to put my hand up and be one of them,” Maxwell told reporters in Melbourne. — Reuters
