Carberry hits ton on return from cancer

Former England opener and Perth Scorchers favourite Michael Carberry has scored a century on his return to first-class cricket after being diagnosed with cancer.

Carberry shocked the cricket world last July when, having missed a county championship match for Hampshire because he felt unwell, revealed he had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumour

The opener was forced to miss the second half of the English domestic season but following a successful operation, his prognosis was looking up and in January Hampshire hinted he was 'working back to full fitness'.

The 36-year-old was part of Hampshire's pre-season tour to Barbados last month where he showed good form.

On the first day of Hampshire's first-class match against Cardiff University he opened the batting, and scored an even 100 from 121 balls, hitting 17 boundaries.

His innings rescued Hampshire from a shaky start that saw the club slip to 3-31. He was given a standing ovation as he left the Rose Bowl when dismissed shortly after the lunch break.

After being named for the first-class return, Carberry issued a statement last week.

"I would like to thank my family, the club, the supporters and my teammates worldwide for all the kind messages of support and love through another very tough time in my career and life," Carberry said.

"There is still a long way to go to being ‘recovered’ fully, but the outpour of support from the cricket family has helped massively in getting me back playing, and I’m looking forward to another great summer with Hampshire."

Carberry had previously suffered from blood clots on the lung, missing the start of the 2011 season.

The batsman played for England at Test, one-day and Twenty20 level with his last appearance in a one-day series against Sri Lanka in May 2014.

He famously had his bat snapped in half by a Ryan Harris delivery during the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG in January 2014.

He had been the Perth Scorchers second-leading run scorer in their title-winning BBL|04 season with 266 runs at 44.33. Carberry was at the crease in a hectic final over that secured the Scorchers their second consecutive title, ramping Sydney Sixers bowler Brett Lee for a crucial boundary.

He scored 87 runs in BBL|05 – 62 coming of them in a thrilling run chase against Hobart at Blundstone Arena – at 21.75.

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2017-18 International Fixtures:

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