New Zealand’s star pacer, Tim Southee, recently faced a daunting challenge as he dislocated his thumb, putting his participation in the upcoming ODI World Cup in jeopardy. However, Southee’s determination and remarkable progress have reignited hopes of his swift recovery just in time for the marquee tournament scheduled to commence on October 5.
On October 3, Tim Southee arrived in Ahmedabad, marking a significant milestone in his journey back to fitness. The last few weeks have been nothing short of tumultuous for the 34-year-old cricketer, grappling with the thumb injury. Southee shared insights into the challenges he faced, describing it as a “crazy couple of weeks.” His ordeal was not only about physical healing but also a race against time to make it to India.
New Zealand’s Pacer said, “It’s still a bit tender where obviously there’s a bit of scarring and a bit of numbness around where the plate is. So I guess it’s just (about) getting used to that and getting back into some bowling. I haven’t done a lot of bowling over the last couple of weeks, so it’s about getting your loads back up as well as managing the thumb.
One of the most striking aspects of Southee’s recovery is his resilience in the face of adversity. He candidly admitted that he is not yet a hundred percent fit, still experiencing tenderness in the affected thumb. The injury left its mark with scarring and numbness around the area where a plate was inserted. Despite this discomfort, Southee is gradually getting back into bowling, acknowledging the importance of managing the pain.
“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. A bit of a race against time to get here, but managed to get here and it’s a great place to come. It’s an awesome place to come and play cricket, let alone being a World Cup,” Southee was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Southee confessed that this injury was unlike any he had encountered in his cricketing career. In the lead-up to a World Cup, such injuries can be mentally taxing for players. However, his focus remained unwavering on devising a rapid recovery plan, enabling him to return to the cricket field as swiftly as possible.
“(The injury was) something new. Haven’t done an injury like this before. I guess when something like that happens so close to a world event, your mind starts to drift towards that. With the limited time we had, I guess sitting down and working out the fastest recovery time, and the route back was to chuck some screws in it and a plate and hope for the best. Everyone I’ve dealt with and the process has been brilliant to get me to this stage. So fingers crossed we can carry on the recovery process and be right in time,” Southee added.
In the midst of uncertainty, Southee expressed his gratitude for the support and care he received during this challenging phase. He commended the process and the professionals who guided him through the rehabilitation journey. Southee remains optimistic, hoping to continue the recovery process and be in prime form just in time for the World Cup.
