New Zealand's left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, whose career-best performance helped the country win the Pune test match against India, isn't part of the team's XI for the third Test of the three-match series. For New Zealand to make it to the World Test Championship finals, they must win all their remaining matches, including the series against England and this match against India. At the toss for the third Test, New Zealand captain Tom Latham revealed why the 32-year-old isn't part of the team. Apparently, Santner had a side strain, an injury that happens when tendons and muscles of the oblique muscles are torn or overstretched. An injury that's relatively common among fast bowlers due to the repetitive actions of bowling, bending, twisting and the strain involved can lead to severe discomfort and pain.
Side strain is most common among professional cricketers but is also spotted in amateur players who play recreationally. Any activity that demands sudden 'twisty' movements, intense physical exertion and heavy lifting can be at the risk of this injury. If you love playing cricket or engaging in activities that demand similar physical movements and are experiencing physical discomfort, use the below checklist from sports injury experts to see whether they are the symptoms of side strain:
Symptoms of side strain
1) Aching pain on one side of the abdomen, especially while moving the body. It can be mild discomfort at the beginning, gradually progressing into severe pain.
2) Tenderness in the affected area. If you touch the muscle or the side of your body, you will feel discomfort.
3) Spasms or involuntary contractions on the abdomen
4) Medium to intense stiffness on your body. It can also affect your range of motion and the ability to do normal activities, like sneezing, coughing, or even taking deep breaths.
5) Pain that gradually radiates to the hip, back, or even pelvis area. It can also be difficult to pinpoint the exact spot of the pain.
How's side strain treated?
If you feel these symptoms are worsening, make sure you rest well, giving your body enough time to heal. Every few hours, apply ice packs to the affected areas for about 20 minutes to reduce swelling. Compression bandages for support might also help some people. At the same time, schedule timely consultations with your coach and doctor to prevent further complications. If not treated at the right time, the injury can lead to a prolonged recovery time and extreme pain, according to experts. New Zealand vs India has been trending on Google Trends with more than 200K search volume for more than 12 hours.
