NZ Cricketer Peter Ingram injured - away from the field !!

He needed to secure time off from his teaching job at Francis Douglas Memorial College before confirming his place in the squad – but an injury is going to keep this Kiwi out – nay, nothing sustained on a Cricket field but on the farm field !!!

Wridhimann Saha had a rough decision – apparently there was no snick but was adjudged caught – he put his down and started walking. This morning in the Expert panel Sanjay Manjrekar alongside Hayden and Wasim Akram said : ‘if a batsman walks out before given out – it is showing disrespect to the Umpires’ – the Aussie spoke further ……. It sounds rather different – there are two aspects : 1) gentlemen Cricketers would walk when they are out – though Umpire may still be in doubt 2) players have no other go but to walk towards the pavilion when given out by the Umpire – most players of repute would do that without showing great show of fuss on the perceived wrong decision !!!!

Injuries in the field are not new – and not all were accidental – there have been times from bodyline to bloodbath in Sabina park and more when batsmen were left bloodied – recent times have seen sad passing away of Phil Hughes, an Umpire Hilel Awaskar passing away in Israel !, Omar Phillips getting injured in WI – and Virat Kohli getting struck on the helmet by Mitchell Johnson – all players rushing to Kohli, who went on to make a solid century and perish eventually of another bouncer.  There were bouncers hurled at tail, one which was somewhat ungainly hit by Shami … all part of the game.

A couple of decades ago, a promising Cricketer would end up a good job in a PSU (mostly banks) – now we have some who breathe and play Cricket only – still earn more than what was earned by their former colleagues. Players after retirement generally end up in media commenting on the game or turn to coaching.  New Zealand and some other players are different – the players do many other things too.

Central Districts opener Peter Ingram ended a roller coaster week on a high after being included in the New Zealand cricket squad for next month's tri-series in Sri Lanka. Ingram replaced Jesse Ryder in the 14-man squad after Ryder was ruled out yesterday with an elbow injury. It represented a remarkable change of forturne for the 31-year-old New Plymouth teacher Ingram, who wasn't included in the list of New Zealand Cricket's 20 contracted players announced earlier. A hard-hitting and prolific runscorer at domestic level, it appeared his short international career may have ended when he was dropped for the second test against Australia in March, amidst concern at his lack of foot movement against quality attacks.

Sadly, the good news is not to last longer. Peter Ingram  has suffered back and knee injuries after being run over by his tractor. According to Taranaki Daily News, Ingram was moving cattle on his farm when his tractor keeled over on a steep bank. "I jumped off the tractor and the bank was so steep I landed about five meters in front of it and then it's run me over and crushed a couple of vertebrae and dislocated my knee," Ingram said. Ingram was flown to hospital after he hobbled a kilometer to find help from his neighbours. He spent six days in hospital before being discharged. The back would heal up but due to knee trouble, he may not be able to bowl. He had a share of the world record Twenty20 opening partnership of 201 runs with regular opening partner Jamie How. The same pair also hit the highest opening wicket stand in New Zealand first-class cricket of 428 runs, against Wellington in 2009-10.

At Adelaide, the wrecker-in-chief was not a fast bowler.  One can understand, Indians playing pacers not well – but in a land which had master batsman against spinners, it is surprising that spinners of opponents have been successful too – it is not about Abdul Qadir, Iqbal Qasim, Shane Warne, Muralitharan, Underwood, Gibbs of olden days – in many recent tours and even at home, Indian batsmen of clay have floundered against spinners.  Remember Ajmal, Swann,Monty Panesar,Moen Ali,Shane Shilingford and now Lyon. 

Nathan Lyon continued bowling an impressive brand of offspin to earn Australia not only a handy first-innings lead but also enough time to build a target and have a second crack at India in Adelaide. Lyon claimed three of the five wickets to fall on the fourth morning - Peter Siddle took the other two - to complete his sixth five-wicket haul as India were dismissed with just under an hour to go before lunch.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

12^th Dec 2014.