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CRICKET-AUS-HASTINGS
Australia’s Hastings struggles with mystery lung condition
SYDNEY, Oct 14, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Australian international John Hastings
said his cricket career could be over after struggling with a mystery illness
that causes him to cough up blood whenever he bowls.
The 32-year-old all-rounder, who has represented his country in all three
formats of the game and was due to play for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash
League this season, said the condition was getting worse.
“Every time I’m bowling now it’s happening,” he told the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation.
“It’s literally just bowling. It’s not running. I can do boxing, weight
sessions, rowing, anything like that.
“But as soon as the pressure (of bowling) at the crease at match
intensity, when I step it up, literally I burst blood vessels in my lungs and
I walk back to my mark and cough up some blood.”
He first noticed the issue several years ago and despite a battery of
tests and operations is no closer to knowing why it happens only when he
bowls.
“It’s pretty scary, but they can’t tell for sure it’s not going to cause
long-term damage. There’s a lot of grey area surrounding it,” he added.
The muscular Hastings, who played one Test, nine Twenty20s and 29 one-day
internationals, was keen to continue his career and cash in on the lucrative
Twenty20 circuit, but admits it is now likely over.
“I’ve played this game my whole life and I wanted to keep playing it,” he
said.
“I wanted to play tournaments all around the world. That’s one of the
reasons I retired early from one-day and four-day cricket.
“To see it may be slipping away, it’s pretty tough to take and at this
stage, unless something miraculous happens, I won’t be able to bowl.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/0815 hrs