Spare a thought for Michael Hussey and Nathan Hauritz. Selected in the touring squad for the World Cup, both were told yesterday that they would not be touring due to their recent injuries.
JL's Blog: Spare a thought for injured
Affectionately known as Mr Cricket for his incredible passion for the game, yesterday's news would have felt like an arrow through his heart.
World Cups, like Olympic Games, only come around every four years, so miracles aside, it is unlikely Michael will be in line for another crack at it, due to his age.
This fact will only serve to heighten his extreme disappointment.
Of all the players I know, Mike Hussey would have been one I would have backed to overcome his hamstring injury in time to have an impact on this year's World Cup.
He is single-minded in all his pursuits and would have been willing to do absolutely everything to recover.
Sadly for him though, medical advice suggested that, even with his incredible work ethic and desire, he would have been struggling to recover sufficiently to take the risk.
Sometimes the toughest decisions have to be made and as big a loss as he will be to the team, we all hope the right call has been made for the good of this campaign.
Nathan Hauritz will be equally as disappointed. Fighting his way back into the team, his shoulder injury couldn't have come at a worse time.
Disappointed and angry as he might be with the selector's decision, his predicament is another example that it is tough to outrun the natural healing process of the body.
Tasmanian Xavier Doherty's back problems have also ruled him out of contention which will be heart breaking for him as well.
Both will be missed on these sub continental pitches, which are sure to spin.
Taking a more positive look at our prospects, this summer has proven, once again that Australia has a strong depth of talent, especially in the shorter versions of the game.
After the disappointment of the Vodafone Ashes, the team bounced back admirably to win the Commonwealth Bank One Day Series against England 6-1.
Despite the spate of injuries, Australia played excellent one day cricket and will arrive in India on Thursday full of confidence.
The return of Ricky Ponting is a bonus, as is the phoenix like return of Brett Lee.
Michael Clarke's return to form is timely, as is the increasing confidence of David Hussey in the middle order.
Shaun Tait's pace and improving fitness will cause sleepless nights to many opposition batsmen and Steve Smith's all round performance in the last month has been exciting.
Allan Border medallist and all round super star Shane Watson is primed to have a massive impact with bat and ball and my gut feeling is that with continued work Mitchell Johnson could develop into a great bowling all rounder.
Up and coming all rounder John Hastings is sure to gain from rubbing shoulders with these two giants over the coming months.
Our latest Australian captain Cameron White should lap up the Indian conditions and Brad Haddin will be hungry to shine at the top of the order.
In both of these players, there is no ground in the world big enough to accommodate their natural power and hitting ability.
The sub continent grounds will provide both of these hitters with mouth watering environments to shine.
Left armer Dougy Bollinger provides natural variation and pace and Nathan Hauritz's replacement Jason Krezja has a distinct advantage in that he genuinely spins the ball.
He is also athletic in the field and can bat a bit; attributes providing us with another X factor player.
Add to this squad the natural talents of Tim Paine and Callum Ferguson and I board the Emirates flight excited by our prospects for this World Cup.
Much can happen over such a long campaign but there is no doubt the confidence gained over the last few weeks will be a welcome ally.
As we saw during the Vodafone Ashes Series, confidence can be the most powerful of forces; just as a lack of it can cripple even the greatest of players and teams.
The key for this Australian team will be to build and build and build on this confident platform.
Seven weeks is a long time for any tournament so we will be looking to keep on our wining ways by working hard and growing the camaraderie within our ranks.
When the pressure comes on, as it surely will, it is the hard work and camaraderie which will define the winner from the loser.
We have the talent to win this World Cup, those other invisible factors are the key and I am looking forward to being a part of that building process.
From Perth
JL
For more about Justin Langer visit http://www.justinlanger.com.au/