Jordan Silk’s recovery progressing strongly after he was struck by Tasmania teammate Riley Meredith during a centre-wicket practice session earlier this month
Silk eyes return date from fractured wrist
Jordan Silk will continue to be sidelined for Tasmania's two Marsh One-Day Cup matches next week but is hopeful of a round five Marsh Sheffield Shield return as he recovers from a fractured left wrist.
Silk was hit by Tigers teammate and Australia A quick Riley Meredith during a centre-wicket practice session in Hobart a fortnight ago, and underwent surgery that involved the insertion of a plate and screws in his forearm.
It was the same surgery that was performed last summer on Victoria batsman Nic Maddinson when he was struck during a Shield match.
The 27-year-old has not been given a definitive return date as yet but is keen to resume a season in which he has already been named captain of the Tigers' one-day team and represented the Prime Minister's XI against the Sri Lankans.
"It's going well so far," Silk told cricket.com.au.
"It's all just day-by-day at the moment, testing my range of movement and not pushing it too early, like not picking up a bat until it feels like I can genuinely bat how I was batting pre-injury.
"I've had my eye on round five (for a return) – the next Shield game, which starts on November 29.
"That's basically four weeks since the time of injury and if not, the week after is the next option – that's the next Shield game, round six.
"Ideally I'd like to get some cricket in before the Bash, but I will definitely be available for the first game for the Sixers (on December 18)."
Silk has made scores of 44, 41 and 28 this Shield season and despite failing to convert any of those promising starts, he is viewing the positives of his solid contributions from the top of the order.
"(Not pushing on to a big score) is frustrating," he said. "Then you sit back and watch the guys go about it this week on a nice-looking batting wicket in Adelaide. That makes it tougher.
"They're the sorts of games that, when you play your home games in Bellerive, away runs are so valuable, and I've probably wasted some opportunities already this year on good batting tracks, albeit against some good bowling attacks.
"But it's also about belief. I know I can get through new-ball periods now, and I'm doing it so much more consistently than I've ever done – although I haven't played at Bellerive (Blundstone Arena) yet this season, where on day one on a green wicket, sometimes your name is just on one."
Tasmania are sitting in third position on the Shield ladder and host Queensland (Nov 29) and South Australia (Dec 7) in back-to-back matches before the BBL break.
Next week they take on Queensland (Nov 18) and New South Wales (Nov 20) in the one-day competition, with both matches also at Hobart's Blundstone Arena.