
In a surprising turn of events, former Australia Test captain Tim Paine has shared a straightforward message for fellow professional athletes in the wake of Glenn Maxwell’s unexpected concussion injury, which has ruled him out of an upcoming World Cup match against England: “Avoid getting on the back of a golf cart.”
Maxwell’s unfortunate incident occurred during the team’s day off earlier in the week when he fell off the back of a golf cart, subsequently sidelining him from the crucial league stage clash against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Paine expressed his frustration over such avoidable mishaps happening in major tournaments and series but acknowledged the significance of players having time away from the game. He added, “Just don’t get on the back of a golf cart. I know we’ve all jumped on the back of a golf cart for 20 or 30 meters… but it’s frustrating because it is avoidable and it leaves a massive hole in our team. Hopefully, it’s only the one game (that he misses).”
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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 find themselves on a four-match losing streak, raising concerns of an early exit from the competition. Paine empathized with both Maxwell and the Australian team, understanding the shock surrounding the off-spin all-rounder’s concussion injury.
He remarked, “It’s astonishing really. It’s very unlucky. I’m laughing because we’re talking about in the middle of a World Cup, a key player in a professional sporting team, having a concussion from falling off the back of a golf cart. You’ve got to see the funny side of it; it’s not ideal. But it’s so ridiculous that it’s hilarious really. At the same time, it’s disappointing… I mean, Glenn Maxwell would be shattered. He didn’t mean to do this. It is a freak accident. From his point of view and the team’s point of view, they’d be shattered,” he concluded.