By Daniel Lane
Former Test opener Justin Langer supported the scrutiny of Cricket Australia's concussion law as NSW batter Ben Rohrer revealed he would miss another Sheffield Shield match because of the bouncer that floored him in the opening round against Victoria.
Rohrer was felled by a Chris Tremain delivery and he told The Tonk it was unlikely he would play against South Australia when play starts at the SCG on Tuesday.
Hit for six: A groggy Ben Rohrer is taken from the MCG after being struck during the match against Victoria earlier this month.Credit: Getty Images
"I'm still struggling, it hasn't been a good couple of weeks," said Rohrer of his light-headedness. "Hopefully I've turned the corner, I'm starting to feel a bit better and the doctor thinks it'll resolve itself soon."
In 2006 Langer was prepared to defy his skipper Ricky Ponting and medical opinion he would risk death to bat again after being forced to retire hurt when a Makhaya Ntini bouncer thundered into his helmet in the Johannesburg Test of the series against South Africa
The team's medical staff described it as the worst concussion they had seen but Langer remembered feeling "wussy" when, after spending days in his room sick, sorry and groggy, he told teammate Damien Martyn the night before the last day he could not bat.
However, as Australian wickets tumbled Langer dressed for battle and it scared Ponting, who said he would not allow him to bat.
"I told Ricky we wouldn't be friends if he didn't let me," said Langer. "I felt if I didn't go out I'd regret it for the rest of my life because I knew it was a big moment.
"Fortunately the boys got through and I didn't have to. It was definitely more of an emotional decision than one I made with my head.
"It's a serious issue and having experienced [concussion] a few times it's a horrible feeling, it's like you're watching TV and someone pulls the power cord out.
"When it happened to me in Johannesburg during my 100th Test I was sick for weeks and having been in his shoes I sympathise for Ben."
Rohrer said he'd probably "lean towards" the idea to immediately rule players who suffered a knock like his out of the match.
"The essence of cricket is it's hard not to go out and help your team," he said. "It's a tough decision to leave your side a man down and while I'm still undecided I'm starting to lean towards the concussion protocols."
McKenna's surprise choice
Plenty of people were stunned when the national under-19 team's captain Pat McKenna nominated for the AFL draft last week. McKenna led the Aussies to Sri Lanka recently but could be headed to GWS and add to their already strong cricket culture. Former Test players Simon Katich and Gavin Robertson have off-field roles there while one star, Stephen Coniglio, opted for footy over flannels despite dominating as a batsman for his native Western Australia in the under-15 national championships six years ago. "People said at the time 'Listen to your heart', and I did," said Coniglio. "I can't speak for anyone else but once I made the call I was happy."
When players multi-skilled
Australian Test skipper Michael Clarke has no shortage of support staff - he has at least 15 people from head coach Darren Lehmann to physiotherapist Alex Kountouris on call. It says plenty for the mettle of Ian Craig, who, at 79, passed away last weekend after a battle with brain cancer. As the national captain of the 1957-58 tour of South Africa he also assumed the manager's duties for two weeks when the incumbent died of a heart attack. Craig was 22.
Escape in Nick of time
Sydney Thunder chief executive Nick Cummins' reflexes saved him during his Academy team's SCG Cricket-Triforce T20 Cup match against the Sydney Sixers Academy XI at Drummoyne Oval on Wednesday when he danced out of danger after a powerful six bounced off a seat high in the players' stand and whizzed past his nose. The Sixers' PR officer Jodie Hawkins was had left the seat seconds before the ball cannoned into it.
Boof's up-and-comers
The Darren Lehmann Academy XI competing in the SCG Cricket-Triforce T20 Cup this week boasts five players on English Cricket Board scholarships. Coach Shaun Seigert said the Adelaide-based Academy boasts a great record. "We've had 12 lads play international cricket and 80 have played first-class cricket." Joe Root, Ajmal Shajzad, Monty Panesar are graduates. Seigert nominated Ian Cockbain (Gloucester), Alex Davies (Lancashire), Ravi Patel (Middlesex), Jack Leaning (Yorkshire) and Rob Keogh (Northants) as worth watching.
Country talent initiative
NSW bowler Trent Copeland supports plans for a $2 million state-of-the-art CNSW indoor cricket academy to be built in his home town of Bathurst to help cricketers in the talent-rich central west develop. Copeland was MC at a government function during last Sunday's T20 international where guests included politicians, CNSW officials and Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, who supported the plan to build hubs in such regional areas as Wagga Wagga and Newcastle. Copeland said the centre would be a community asset. "As a country kid who came to Sydney I've seen how important good facilities are for cricketers to progress. This would help players back home," he said.
Brad's never had enough
If Michael Clarke is ruled out of the first Test and Brad Haddin is cleared to play and made skipper, he will be fit and ready to roll despite being sidelined for weeks by a shoulder injury. His personal trainer Christian Marchegiani said Haddin has an amazing fitness base built on a regime of boxing and high resistance weight training. "He's the kind of athlete who calls the day he gets off a plane because he wants to train. He'll always give one more round when he has nothing left."
Girls give it a bash
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said an important point behind the plan to create a female Big Bash T20 League was to generate an even higher profile for the players and to encourage the droves of girls taking up cricket at school to play on as they get older. "We want to create a stronger and broader pathway through to the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and hopefully that'll increase the longevity of the Southern Stars as the world champion team they are." NSW star Rachael Haynes said the Little Breakers League was unearthing brilliant talent. "It's exciting to see the players coming through and a lot of the [NSW team] go out to encourage them," she said.