Symonds recovery ahead of schedule

[Quagmire]

Andrew Symonds seems to be ahead of his recovery hoping to play in the third game of the world cup against South Africa, the major problem is that if he goes down with the same injury straight away again he could lose his throwing power. Symonds has one of the best arms in world cricket if not the best at hitting the stumps at high speed and if he loses that attribute to his game it would be a great shame. I personally think that even if he can play in the South African game he should not, he is Australia's most important player and the reason they have lost the recently. What I do not understand is that even if Australia loses to South Africa they will still go through to the next round assuming that Australia can beat the Netherlands and Scotland which should not be difficult. Why risk him early in the tournament?

[Aussie-Yank]

The way I look at it is if it is a game we could win or lose and it does not hinder our chances of winning the Cup - then I would play him with the instructions of to go easy on it.

I would like him to have an game under his belt so if he comes out rusty our cup lives are not riding on his performance.

[Quagmire]

Very good point Aussie Yank, that is probally what they would do.

[Ernest]

I would NOT play him in this World Cup - it's to soon after he was injured.

England IMO abused Flintoff by playing him when injured, and to soon after treatment.

[Quagmire]

They wont push Symonds like they have done with Flintoff if Symonds is not able to play or it is dangerous for his health they will bring in Cameron White to try to do a similar sort of role in the side.

I think that Brad Hodges bowling would be handy enough in ODI's to consider him as an batting allrounder like a Symonds, Lehmann, Jayasuriya, Clarke or Gayle sort of mould

[Nostromo]

I think the current plan to bring Symonds in for the SA game, which is third one on the Oz schedule is about correct. This gives him extra time to recover, but has the disadvantage of him being short of match practice for that important clash. He can compensate to some extent at the nets to get used to the local conditions.

Frankly, I think he'll be all right for batting, but may not be able to bowl. While this is a definite disadvantage, the Aussies have more than enough bowlers in the team (including good part-timers like Clarke) to compensate. But the area where Symonds has to be really careful is his fielding. With a recent biceps tendon injury, a big, lumbering guy like him cannot afford to throw himself about like he used to.

All in all, the team will probably have only half a Symonds throughout the tournament if he is included, but even that should be better than no Symonds.

[acker]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I would NOT play him in this World Cup - it's to soon after he was injured.

England IMO abused Flintoff by playing him when injured, and to soon after treatment.

The thing is though Ernest, this is the world cup it does not come around again until 2011 (he will well and truly be in the sunset of his carreer at that stage if still going at all). Ashes dont come round again untill 2009 or somewhere near it.
This is probably the last major cricketing event of his international carreer, he may as well give it his best shot to get on the park rather than die wondering what might have been.