Injured /unavailable players who could have changed series

[govinda indian fan]

Got idea for this thread from @Silferxxx post where he mentioned if bishop was not injured wi would have won 1995 and 97 frank worell trophy
What are instenses in which injured player availability would have changed series
Mine are
If shami played recent bgt india would have won or darwn series
If srinath played in 97 west Indies tour we would not have to wait till 2006 for our first series win in wi since 71
If smith and warner played 2018/19 bgt india might not have won
Pak would have won 96 wc qf had wasim been fit

 

[Johan]

Denis Compton in 1950 Ashes, his knee was shot so he couldn't do much but if he supported Hutton in some of the innings, who knows what would've happened? Fred Trueman in 1958-59 ashes is another interesting one but England probably still get pounded, thanks to the courtesy of Mel McInnes and the brilliance of a Benaud's golden years.

 

[fredfertang]

Denis Compton in 1950 Ashes, his knee was shot so he couldn't do much but if he supported Hutton in some of the innings, who knows what would've happened? Fred Trueman in 1958-59 ashes is another interesting one but England probably still get pounded, thanks to the courtesy of Mel McInnes and the brilliance of a Benaud's golden years.

Outside the Tests in 50/51 Compo averaged more than 90!

 

[Johan]

Outside the Tests in 50/51 Compo averaged more than 90!

Yeah, he was in form, started the tour with a bang then his knee acted up around first test and that was that, still managed to score against the weaker lineups though, a great "what could have been" idea

 

[fredfertang]

72/73 WI/Aus series might have been different had the WI selectors treated Sir Garfield with a bit more respect and picked him for the 2nd,3rd, 4th and 5th Tests

 

[Coronis]

Yeah, he was in form, started the tour with a bang then his knee acted up around first test and that was that, still managed to score against the weaker lineups though, a great "what could have been" idea

Big excuse! Knee was fine in the tour matches heh.


McGrath in 05 is an obvious one.
Smith in 19 as well.

1912 Triangular Tournament.

Australia’s 3 draws may all still have occurred (all 3 day matches shortened by weather)

However, due to the Big Six Dispute they were short Trumper, Hill, Cotter, Armstrong, Carter, and Ransford. Also Ranji Hordern (another great cricketing doctor) who took 32 wickets in the 11/12 Ashes was unable to tour due to clashes with his medical duties.

I have a feeling they do not lose to England by 244 runs in the final test with these guys.

 

[Johan]

Big excuse! Knee was fine in the tour matches heh.

so you think Compton faked a knee injury 6 months before the Ashes? also, tour matches are usually easier, See Marshall in India 1979, there are levels to this sport y'know

 

[Coronis]

so you think Compton decided to fake a knee injury 6 months before the series started?

I just think its convenient about when it would flare up

Also, is the 2003-04 Aus vs India series (not B/G yet) still a 1-1 draw or a 2-0 win?

 

[Johan]

I just think its convenient about when it would flare up

Also, is the 2003-04 Aus vs India series (not B/G yet) still a 1-1 draw or a 2-0 win?

Eh I think it makes sense

also, think Australia win the 2003-04 Ashes pretty decisively with McGrath tbh, he'd put Sehwag and Dravid in his backpocket

 

[Sliferxxxx]

2005 Ashes is McGrath doesn't go down.

1980 WI/NZ series if Viv hadn't missed the tour through injury.

Maybe India win more comfortably in 2001 BGT with both Kumble and Harby

BGT in Australia 2003-04. Not sure series ends in a draw with Gillespie and McGrath fully fit and available.

Etc

 

[subshakerz]

Asif was injured when Pakistan toured England in 2006 and came in the last test.

 

[shortpitched713]

If Asif wasn't a ****, we could have been one of the top Test playing nations in the world.

 

[subshakerz]

If Asif wasn't a ****, we could have been one of the top Test playing nations in the world.

Yeah. Genuine contenders for 2011 WC too.

Imagine it was Asif opening the bowling against Sehwag instead of Gul who got blitzed and lost us that game.

 

[the big bambino]

Got idea for this thread from @Silferxxx post where he mentioned if bishop was not injured wi would have won 1995 and 97 frank worell trophy

Pretty sure Bishop played the 96/97 series and Aus won. The difference between the sides was Ambrose and when he was missing the WI attack of Walsh and Bishop looked distinctly gettable.

 

[vidiq]

If Lyon Played all 5 matches in Ashes 2023 , AUS would have easily won that series.
Lyon beat eng in 1st 2 matches (2-0).

 

[Starfighter]

Pretty sure Bishop played the 96/97 series and Aus won. The difference between the sides was Ambrose and when he was missing the WI attack of Walsh and Bishop looked distinctly gettable.

I suspect @Sliferxxxx might be banking on Bishop being better without his injuries.

Problem is Bishop's bowling action was fundamentally flawed (as are his ideas about bowling actions). He'd need to have been a different bowler.

Plus there was nothing injury-wise compelling him to bowl too short at Adelaide.

 

[Sliferxxxx]

Pretty sure Bishop played the 96/97 series and Aus won. The difference between the sides was Ambrose and when he was missing the WI attack of Walsh and Bishop looked distinctly gettable.

I'm assuming Bishop was fully fit and bowling as he was pre first back injury. Dont know if you're old enough to know but pre and post injury Bishop are two different beasts altogether.

 

[Sliferxxxx]

I suspect @Sliferxxxx might be banking on Bishop being better without his injuries.

Problem is Bishop's bowling action was fundamentally flawed (as are his ideas about bowling actions). He'd need to have been a different bowler.

Plus there was nothing injury-wise compelling him to bowl too short at Adelaide.

I'm assuming pre injury Bishop. Pre injury Bishop was even better than Ambrose.

 

[Molehill]

Big excuse! Knee was fine in the tour matches heh.


McGrath in 05 is an obvious one.
Smith in 19 as well.

2019 is an interesting one, I think England were hurt more by losing Anderson. I think they'd have won the First Test without his injury. And if Smith hadn't got injured (and to be honest, I think you can attribute some of this to the brilliance of Archer in that moment), then Marnus wouldn't have played.

It wouldn't have changed the result, but I suspect England would've avoided defeat in Adelaide in 2006 if Vaughan was fit.

 

[vidiq]

2019 is an interesting one, I think England were hurt more by losing Anderson. I think they'd have won the First Test without his injury. And if Smith hadn't got injured (and to be honest, I think you can attribute some of this to the brilliance of Archer in that moment), then Marnus wouldn't have played.

It wouldn't have changed the result, but I suspect England would've avoided defeat in Adelaide in 2006 if Vaughan was fit.

Anderson is never a good bowler against Australia at home.