Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine has a clear message for professional athletes following Glenn Maxwell’s unexpected concussion injury, which forced him out of the upcoming World Cup match against England: “Stay clear of golf carts.”
Maxwell’s unanticipated absence from Australia’s crucial league stage clash against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium came about when he fell off the back of a golf cart during a team day off earlier in the week.
Paine expressed his frustration, saying, “It’s disheartening when such incidents occur during a significant tournament or series, particularly when they are preventable accidents. I understand the significance of players having time away from the game, but it’s perplexing when avoidable accidents like this occur and leave a significant void in our team. I hope it’s just the one game that he misses.”
He went on to emphasize, “Simply avoid getting on the back of a golf cart. I know we’ve all hopped on one for short distances, but it’s frustrating because this could have been avoided, and it has left a significant gap in our team. Hopefully, this is just a one-time occurrence,” as mentioned by Paine on SEN Radio.
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Australia, a five-time winner of the World Cup, is currently on a four-match winning streak in the tournament, while defending champions England are on a four-match losing streak, facing the possibility of an early exit. Paine believes that both Maxwell and the Australian team are deeply disappointed with the circumstances surrounding the off-spin all-rounder’s concussion injury.
Paine remarked, “It’s genuinely astonishing. It’s extremely unlucky. I can’t help but laugh because, in the middle of a World Cup, a vital player in a professional sports team suffered a concussion from falling off the back of a golf cart. There’s a humorous side to it, as it’s far from ideal.”
“However, it’s so absurd that it’s almost comical. Simultaneously, it’s disheartening. Glenn Maxwell didn’t intend for this to happen. It’s a freak accident. From his perspective and the team’s perspective, it’s truly disheartening,” Paine concluded.
