David Newman

Hampshire's pre-season tour to Cape Town has kept Hampshire physiotherapist David Newman busy. Apart from treating some minor knocks he has concerns over a few players.

Lawrence Prittipaul was progressing well before aggravating his right shoulder whilst lifting his cricket bag. His shoulder impingement is a cause for major concern.

Adi Aymes strained his left gluteus maximus (buttock) some four days ago. He is making a rapid recovery and will be fit for the start of the season.

Alex Morris strained his left achilles tendon and has not bowled recently to give it every chance to recover. David Newman expects Alex to be fit for the start of the new season.

Zac Morris returned from Australia in January and had an operation to remove his os trigonum in his right ankle. The removal of this small bone at the back of the ankle joint has reacted to an increased training load.

Jason Laney has a sore left achiles tendon and is undergoing intensive treatment.

Dimitri Mascarenhas had surgery at the end of last season on his calcaneus (heel bone) which has been slow to recover, and unfortunately it appears he may be laying down some new bone at the site of the operation. However, it is expected at the moment that he will be able to play, as he did last season, albeit with some discomfort. Dimi is returning to England to meet up with the team when they return from South Africa.

David Newman speaking to the webmaster, intimated that the amount of pre-season injuries is about average. "I have had worse starts to the new term than this," said Newman.

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