Strauss "frustrated" by Denly injury
Andrew Strauss says he is "frustrated" by Joe Denly's injury
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Thursday, 03, Sep 2009 07:17
By Alistair Potter
England captain Andrew Strauss has revealed his frustration over the football-related injury suffered by one-day international opener Joe Denly.
Denly was tackled from behind by team-mate Owais Shah, causing him to fall awkwardly and injure his knee, and he now looks a certainty to miss the first ODI against Australia at the Oval having been pencilled in at the top of the batting order.
And Strauss admitted to being annoyed at having to face media questions over his side's warm-up techniques rather than the important issue of the cricket ahead of the opening match of the seven-game series tomorrow.
"It's very frustrating," he conceded.
"We warm-up 200 days a year and the boys really enjoy it.
"We've always felt that if we don't have tackling involved then the risk of anyone getting injured is very slight.
"Up until now we haven't had anyone missing any cricket through a football injury but now that's changed."
When asked if there would be a ban on playing football during warm-ups, especially off the back of wicketkeeper Matt Prior's back spasms before the fourth Test match of the Ashes series at Headingley last month, Strauss hinted that there would be.
"It's something we clearly have to look at," he continued.
"I think it's good to have a bit of competition in the warm-up because it gets people going in the mornings.
"But what sort of game it is we need to think about now."
The results of the scan on Denly's knee are not yet known, although the injury itself looked particularly painful as he was led from the field midway through practice.
Strauss was understandably cagey over his prognosis at such an early stage but admitted the selectors were already considering their options.
"Hopefully he'll play some part in the series but if it's a long-term injury we'll look to bring someone else in," he added.