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My back will never heal fully: Behrendorff

WA quick back in action for next round of Sheffield Shield confident back issues won't curtail his Test cricket dreams

Western Australia fast bowler Jason Behrendorff has revealed his back will never heal fully, but he hopes it doesn't hold him back from realising his Test dream.

Behrendorff has been forced to deal with back pain since suffering a serious stress fracture in early 2015.

The 27-year-old missed the recent JLT Sheffield Shield loss to South Australia because of a flare-up, but he'll return for the clash with Queensland, starting on Friday at the WACA Ground.

Behrendorff remains one of Australia's most-talented bowlers, despite being plagued in recent years by back and leg problems.

Brilliant Behrendorff enters Shield record books

On his return last summer from a broken leg, Behrendorff snared the stunning figures of 9-37 in a Shield innings against Victoria.

And in Australia's T20 win last month against India, the left-arm speedster took 4-21 in a devastating display of pace and swing.

National selectors have long wanted to hand Behrendorff an opportunity to shine in the Test arena, but injuries have so far thwarted those prospects.

But Behrendorff is desperate to keep his Test dreams alive, saying it isn't all doom and gloom with his back.


"It's the old stress fracture that has cracked in the past. It's not fully healed, and it will never fully heal," Behrendorff said of his recent setback.

"There's a few issues with the scar tissue involved in that, getting flared up.

"At this point, it's still quite raw and so that's why I can have some flare-ups at times.

"Quite a few guys have similar fractures to mine. I think it's called a nonunion, so it doesn't heal completely any more.

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"I've been told a few guys have dealt with it in the past and have had good success stories after it.

"They're hoping my back will settle down and adapt a bit more."

Behrendorff said for now, he would not entertain the thought of playing only limited-overs cricket.

"Every young cricketer growing up wants to play Test cricket for Australia and that's still a huge goal for me," he said.

WA will be without Ashes duo Cameron Bancroft and Shaun Marsh, while the Bulls are missing star batsman Usman Khawaja.

Queensland squad: James Peirson (c), Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Luke Feldman, Cameron Gannon, Charlie Hemphrey, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Sam Truloff, Jack Wildermuth.

WA squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Ashton Turner, Jason Behrendorff, Will Bosisto, Hilton Cartwright, Andrew Holder, Josh Inglis, Matt Kelly, Simon Mackin, David Moody, Jhye Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Jonathan Wells.