The Perth Scorchers were dealt a heavy blow, and AJ Tye, the confirmation sailor, will be out of action for up to four months after the elbow operation.
32-year-old Seamer, known for his Death Bowling and numerous variations, tore the center band in his right elbow during a routine exercise prior to the opening of the Australian T20 International in the summer of October.
He was operated on November 4 in Sydney, with a minimum recovery time of three months, but Scorcher’s coach Adam Voges is confident that a key component of his bowling line-up will remain a chance for a return to the final stages of the KFC Big Bash League season.
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“It’s never nice to lose a player because of injury, but someone as experienced and popular as AJ is a big blow for us,” said Voges.
“I am confident that we have the depth to cover AJ, and hopefully the fans will see him in action towards the end of Big Bash at The Furnace.”
Nick Jones, a sports medicine manager at WACA Sports Science, said that the first signs of Tye’s recovery after surgery were promising.
“AJ was successfully reconstructed in Sydney two weeks ago and has recovered well,” said Jones. “We assume that AJ will not be available as a bowler for three to four months. “His availability at the BBL will be checked in the second half of the tournament.”
It’s a second major injury for the Scorchers. Jason Behrendorff already had to take a break for the summer after opting for back surgery.
Nathan Coulter-Nile has left the club this season because of the Melbourne Stars and Shaun Marsh has moved to the Melbourne Renegades, but the Scorchers will still show an impressive pace attack, though their depth is being tested.
Firebrand Jhye Richardson will lead the pace attack as he continues to impress after his comeback following a shoulder injury in March last year. Joel Paris and Matthew Kelly are also in the books.
Up and coming star Cameron Green is expected to be bowling in Big Bash, but is currently batting as he fixes a back complaint but continues to impress the state in first-class and one-day cricket.
The injury to Tye occurred during a routine exercise with a seemingly harmless litter. Tye confided that he felt something “bang,” but had no immediate pain, and later rolled on the nets during the same training session.
“It was one of the first handfuls of throws he did with a high-intensity exercise that required a 100% throw,” Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch told Sri Lanka ahead of the first Gillette T20 International.
“He was just a bit out of balance and I think it was a bit like a side-arm throw and a bit of a blast.”
Tye was released last weekend by IPL franchise company Kings XI Punjab when the tournament’s trading window closed. At the 2018 auction, he had bought $ 1.4 million for the franchise.
With 24 wickets at 18.66 and a savings rate of 8 during the 2018 IPL season, Tye experienced a difficult year in India in 2019, when he bowled 22 overs for three wickets with a saving rate of 10.59.
Last summer he took 21 wickets for the Scorchers in BBL | 08, where he completed less than nine runs per passing lane. He regained 15 wickets as he collected 7.56 runs for Gloucestershire in the English T20 competition before joining the Australian team.
