Arjun Nair ruled out of One-Day Cup with back injury

[Ulquiorra]

NEW South Wales spinner Arjun Nair is confident he has ironed out the technique that got him in trouble with cricket officials last summer but he will have to wait until the Big Bash League to test it out in game.

Nair, who was set to return to bowling duties in September’s One-Day Cup after serving a three-month suspension from the craft, has been diagnosed with a lumbar stress injury. It is hoped he will have recovered from the back injury in time to bowl for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, which begins in December.

He is expected to play in Sydney’s grade competition as a specialist batsman next month.

Nair was cleared to return to bowling duties in May after undergoing further testing. He was initially tested on January 4 after being reported by umpires for a suspect action in a Sydney Thunder match. During the first test that he was deemed to have bowled with a “markedly different” action to the one captured on match footage — an offence that warrants a 90-day ban under Cricket Australia’s protocol.

Shortly before his back injury was uncovered, Nair told foxsports.com.au he had worked hard over the off-season on a slightly modified action to avoid further trouble, completing four to five bowling sessions a week — three with Cricket New South Wales and two with his father.

“It’s all about trying to make this action second nature,” he said. “It’s all good doing it in the test but you’ve got to maintain that in the game in a pressure situation.

“You’ve see that others that have been reported before get reported again in the future. I have to make sure that does not happen. That’s very important. If I can perform well and keep my action and make sure it’s all good it should be fine.”

Although he insists he was not nervous heading into or during testing in January, Nair admits the presence of markers on his bowling arm did play on his mind.

“When you’re bowling in a game you don’t think about your action, you’re thinking about getting the batsman out. When you’ve got the markers on you’re focused on it and you know what’s happening. I think that played an effect.”

Nair feared the bowling-ban would bring his season to an unceremonious end, only for the Thunder to retain him as a specialist batsman for the final two games of the campaign. A gesture that meant a lot to the then-19-year-old.

“It (the three-month ban) was a big blow. All sorts of emotions were running through (my head). I couldn’t really describe it but it was pretty tough.

“The amount of support I got from the Thunder and Cricket NSW in that period was incredible. I’m not sure where I’d be without them. The support gave me the belief I can come back from this.”

Nair scored 45 in his one hit for the Thunder as a specialist batsman — a performance which would not have come as a surprise to anyone who has followed him on the under-age and grade scene. Although it is his bowling that ultimately won him his Sheffield Shield debut as a 17-year-old, it is his batting that caught the attention of state talent managers growing up.

The right-hander posted scores of 95 not out, 0 and 53 in his final three hits in the Futures League last summer and says he is still unsure which specialty will become his strong suit.

“It’s hard to say. My ultimate goal is to play for Australia in any format. Batting or bowling, it gives me joy to do well in both. I’ll never be able to pick a favourite.”