Mennie in doubt for rest of Shield season

It remains unclear whether Test bowler Joe Mennie will return to the playing field this summer after sustaining a skull fracture in a training accident earlier in the month.

Mennie, who made his Test debut against South Africa in Hobart last November and was part of Australia’s ODI squad in South Africa a month prior, was struck on the head while bowling in the nets for the Sydney Sixers during the KFC Big Bash League.

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The South Australia seamer has been sidelined since being diagnosed with a small skull fracture and associated minor brain bleed, and will visit a neurosurgeon in Adelaide tomorrow to have his condition assessed.

The 28-year-old has been told he cannot resume any physical activity for another month, but it was hoped he might be able to return to South Australia’s Sheffield Shield line-up for the final rounds of the domestic summer.

But given he has played no cricket since sustaining the injury more than a week ago and will be sidelined for a further four weeks, doubt remains over his availability for the West End Redbacks, who currently sit second on the Shield ladder, for the remainder of the season.

Mennie’s seam-bowling partner Chadd Sayers said today that while he had chatted with his teammate about his general health, he had not inquired as to when the pace bowler might be returning to training or playing.

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“I’ve spoken to him, he’s in good spirits and feeling well,” Sayers said today as the Redbacks prepared for their Shield match against the Alcohol. Think Again Western Warriors starting at Gliderol Stadium tomorrow.

“But I haven’t spoken to him about his comeback, or to the physio.”

Mennie was bowling in the nets at the Gabba prior to the Sixers’ BBL semi-final against the Brisbane Heat last week when he was hit on the side of the head by a scorching straight drive from teammate, English import Michael Lumb.

Mennie was taken to hospital for observation and was released later that day, but was re-admitted two days later as a precaution when scans revealed the minor fracture and brain bleed.

The Coffs Harbour-born seamer was the Redbacks’ third-highest wicket-taker in the first half of the Shield season, with 15 at an average of 25.20, having been the best-performed Shield bowler last summer with 51 wickets at 21.22.

His SA teammates Chadd Sayers (29 at 18.59) and Kane Richardson (17 at 24.24) have also excelled this season, although Richardson has missed much of the past month with lower back soreness.

And the Redbacks’ pace bowling stocks have been further reduced with Dan Worrall, who like Mennie made his ODI debut in the 0-5 series loss to the Proteas late last year, sidelined for three to four weeks with back soreness.