Canberra fast bowler Jason Behrendorff's dreams of playing at the WT20 have been dashed, but the left-arm quick will play through the pain of a back injury during the Big Bash finals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Behrendorff will be sidelined for at least four months with a re-occurrence of a stress fracture in his back once his commitments with the Perth Scorchers are finished.
It's a huge blow for the 25-year-old, who was a massive chance to make his international debut in the Australian bowling attack at the WT20 in India in March.
Behrendorff will be right to play for the Scorchers in their semi-final against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG after being rested last weekend.
But Scorchers coach Justin Langer said Behrendorff would be given the rest of the summer off and won't play in the Sheffield Shield.
"He'll be on ice for about four months after that I reckon so I'd say he'll be doing everything he can to play back to back games," Langer told The West Australian.
"He's very courageous to play through the back he's got.
"Certainly from our point of view, not only because he is one of our great people and best players, but he'll be having an extended break."
It's the second straight summer Behrendorff will have missed a substantial part of the season with the back injury.
He helped the Scorchers to the BBL title in Canberra last January before he was shut down and missed six months.
Behrendorff returned for WA in the Matador Cup, but again suffered soreness in his back in a Shield game.
"If we had have had to make the semifinal, he would have probably played," Langer said.
"He'll have now 10 or 12 days rest. He'll do what he has to do to get ready.
"We're excited about bringing him back him, he's very excited about coming back in."
Despite carrying his back injury, Behrendorff has again been in outstanding form for the Scorchers.
He has snared 10 wickets from his six games at an average of 16.80 and a superb economy rate of seven runs per over.
The large injury toll among Australia's pace brigade would have put him in a strong chance for his international debut.
Australia are without six of their top-line fast bowlers, including Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Peter Siddle, while the workload of James Pattinson is also being closely monitored.
