Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh faces another disrupted summer after being struck down by the hamstring curse yet again.
Marsh will be sidelined for up to three months after tearing his hamstring during a recent running drill while training with Western Australia.
The injury has ruled the 21-year-old out of the Perth Scorchers’ Twenty20 Champions League campaign in India, as well as the start of the domestic summer.
With the return Ashes series to start in Brisbane on November 21, the injury means Marsh won’t have time to push his case for what would have been an unlikely Test call-up.
Marsh required surgery after tearing his other hamstring last summer.
The right-hander won’t require surgery this time around, but his latest tear will rule him out for between 10-12 weeks.
His brother Shaun Marsh has also been plagued by hamstring issues throughout his career.
Western Australian coach Justin Langer described the injury to Mitch Marsh as a big blow.
“It’s a coach’s nightmare when you see it,” Langer said on Tuesday.
“He was doing a 100m run-through and it just went. I knew straight away.
“He was meticulous in his preparation to get back last time, and he reaped the rewards for that preparation.
“Hopefully he’ll learn really strong lessons and he’ll have a bright summer when he gets over this one.”
Hilton Cartwright will replace Marsh in the Scorchers’ Champions League squad.
Meanwhile, Langer is adamant he won’t have to enforce a booze ban on his team despite the WACA securing a $2.1 million, three-year deal with the state government body Healthway.
Under the partnership, the WACA is unable secure any sponsorships relating to alcohol or products such as soft drinks and fast food.
The Perth Scorchers hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons last year for their boozy night out during the T20 Champions League in South Africa.
Langer was renowned for his tireless work ethic as a player.
The 42-year-old has transferred those same traits into his coaching career, and hopes to turn the Warriors into one of the country’s most-disciplined sporting outfits.
But the former Test opener also feels it’s important to celebrate success – as long as it’s done in a responsible manner.
“Some of my greatest memories of cricket is being with my teammates in the change room and having a couple of beers and singing some songs and talking some rubbish,” Langer said.
“That’s the Australian way, as I know it.”
On another front, the Warriors have decided to ditch their baggy gold cap in favour of the traditional black one they wore for most of the previous century.