WA’s Josh Inglis has opened up about his rough times after a freak golf accident ruined his T20 World Cup campaign, saying he was “absolutely shattered” to miss out on representing his country on home soil.
Inglis was player of the match in his first white-ball match since a horror injury on the golf course in Sydney, when a six-iron snapped and damaged his right hand just three days out from Australia’s tournament opener against New Zealand on October 22.
The hard-hitting run-hander top-scored with a brilliant 85 off 70 balls, including nine fours and a six, as reigning Marsh One-Day Cup champions WA chased down South Australia’s 266 with two wickets in hand and nine balls to spare at the WACA Ground on Wednesday.
“It did take a while, obviously I was absolutely shattered when it happened,” Inglis said about his tournament-ending injury.
“The first couple of weeks were rough, obviously missing out and having to come home and doing rehab and stuff with my hand.”
Despite the heartbreak, Inglis has seen some positives out of his hard-luck story.
“Once you get back into training and playing, it sort of goes away and you just sort of look for positives out of it,” he said.
“I hadn’t spent much time at home over the last couple of years so I was able to be at home for a little while and spend time with my partner.
“I’m just really happy to be back out there and playing some cricket again.”
The 27-year-old felt there was still plenty of time on his side to realize his World Cup dreams, with a 50-over edition in India next year and another T20 version in the USA and Caribbean in 2024.
Australia will be looking for redemption after failing to make the semifinals and defend their T20 crown.
“Hopefully, I’ve just to go keep putting my best foot forward and putting performances on the board for WA and hopefully that holds me in good stead,” Inglis said.
The England-born Englishman has played 11 times for Australia, nine in the T20 arena and twice more in one-day internationals.
He will next feature in WA’s Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales at the SCG starting on Tuesday.
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