Change Of Mind Over Saxelby Operation
9 October 2012
Ian Saxelby will not be undergoing knee surgery this winter after all.
The 23-year-old pace bowler was due to have an operation this month. But further investigation of the injury has led to a rethink and it is now believed rest and treatment could see Ian overcome the problem.
It is an overdue piece of good news for a player whose international aspirations have been dogged by injury since dislocating a shoulder while away with the England performance squad in January 2010.
When that injury was repeated Ian underwent surgery and missed the whole of the 2010 season. But he bounced back to take 49 first class wickets in 2011 and this season was voted Gloucestershire’s Bowler-of-the-Year, despite missing the last month through a worsening knee condition.
Now Ian is setting his sights on being fully fit for the start of next year’s campaign when he hopes to make a fresh push for international selection.
He told this website: “From having the shoulder injury and spending a year out of the game, to come back and take near enough 50 wickets in 2011 and be on course for that figure again this year gives me a lot of encouragement.
“I have improved my white ball skills and there is no reason why I can’t carry on that pattern. But I consider red ball cricket my main strength and if I can get fit by the start of next summer and take Championship wickets regularly I believe I can earn international recognition again.
“I’m only 23 yet I am one of the longest serving players at Gloucestershire. My first year was under the captaincy of Jon Lewis and Alex Gidman has been skipper for four seasons so I have been around for a while.
“Lewy being captain seems a long time ago. I was 18 then and playing England Under-19 cricket when New Zealand came over here that summer.
“I remember Jon Bracewell ringing me up and wishing me well. He knew then he was taking on the job of Director of Cricket at Gloucestershire the following year so I was at the club before him too.
“I look around the squad now and there are probably only three of us who can say that. When I arrived I was the youngest player by about five years. There have been a lot of changes since then and the average age is so much younger.
“When the injury scare happened with my shoulder I didn’t know if I would ever play again. So getting that opportunity and being able to work with some of the best fitness people in the business made me appreciate the game all the more.
“I know it will not be there forever. Now I have the knee to manage, but whenever I am out there on the park I will be giving it 100 per cent.
“After all the problems, there is no danger that I will ever take playing cricket professionally for granted.”
