A gapped schedule to start the Big Bash for the Melbourne Stars could be an early blessing in disguise after opening-night injuries to superstar captain Glenn Maxwell and fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Maxwell injured one of “the biggest forearms in the world” at the Gabba on Thursday night in his first innings since returning home from a stunning tour of India that included a record-breaking World Cup double hundred.
He winced in pain early in his 14-ball innings of 23, grabbing at his elbow after swatting a boundary off Brisbane Heat quick Spencer Johnson. He batted on but needed treatment twice and eventually had thick taping wrapped around his right elbow but was dismissed shortly after, clearly in pain, as his team fell to a 103-run opening-night loss in Brisbane,
Maxwell, the Stars captain, was being sent for scans in Melbourne on Friday afternoon, with the results to determine his availability for his team’s next match at the MCG on December 13.
But after that game the Stars have a nine-day break before their next clash on December 23, potentially giving Maxwell time to rest and recover from his latest setback,
It comes as fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile hurt his calf against the Heat, with scans also to determine his immediate playing future.
Coulter-Nile has a history of soft-tissue injuries and he played just seven games last season.
The injuries further soured an already bad night for the Stars, including Maxwell, who went for 44 runs off just three overs bowling in the massive defeat.
Despite the huge loss and the injury, Stars batter Hilton Cartwright said Maxwell remained positive after the game.
“He’s got the biggest forearms in the world and he’s pulled a muscle. He’s played a lot of cricket, hope he’s OK,” Cartwright said.
“He’s been awesome. He’s had a nice break from the World Cup. He’s been super positive around anything. We just had a quick team meeting (after the game). He was still very positive, had the attitude of what we didn’t get right tonight. We’ll move forward and work on it at training.
“He’s always been like that. He’s got a really level head around reviewing games. I think it’s a real credit to him to keep that positive attitude.”