They Never Learn

I find it quite amusing that players injure themselves playing a sport that they normally don't play. Cricket teams often play football or touch rugby as part of their warm up routines. I bought this topic up as Rory Burns the England opening batsmen damaged knee ligaments yesterday whilst playing football.

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He isn't the first or the last player that this will happen to as this is actually very common. I can rattle a list of players that injured themselves on the morning of a big game leaving the selectors scrambling to rearrange their team. Burns is a batsmen so it isn't that serious as England have replacements, but it could have been one of their key bowlers.

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Football is popular for warm ups amongst all cricketers.

Ashley Giles who is in charge of the English Cricket Board was apparently mulling whether to ban this practice and move back to the basic warm up methods. I am sure he will put a ban in place for now and whilst he remains in charge. I just find it pointless that players can rule themselves out when they have worked so hard to get to the top.

Vernon Philander rolled his ankle the last time he was on tour and was ruled out of the entire series in India. Burns has done something as disastrous as he will miss the next three test matches and have to go home. The danger for him is if his replacement does well he may be left out entirely in the future. It is all about grabbing your chances whether it is good luck on your part or bad luck on someone else.

Why don't they just play touch rugby as football players won't be able to resist tackling each other and someone will get hurt. I banned football at work for the same reason as too many staff members broke legs and there is nothing you can do to stop it, but ban them from playing.