Carseldine to undergo surgery

After struggling with a chronic back problem over the last year, Lee Carseldine will undergo surgery on a degenerative disc in his lower back. His condition has hampered not only his playing cricket, but also day-to-day living.

Carseldine, who played only six games for Queensland last season, was a picture of strength, realising that the operation could go either way. "Best case scenario is that I'm back playing to my full capacity - worst case scenario is that I'm able to lead a normal healthy lifestyle, which I haven't really been able to do for the last 12 months," Carseldine said, and explained that he had exhausted every other option before finally going under the knife. He will be operated upon on August 16, and a titanium disc will be inserted in place of a lower disc.

"The medical staff and I have tried everything else - this is the last option. That's why I'm having the operation now rather than at the end of last summer - because we wanted to exhaust every possible alternative," said Carseldine. "It's this or no cricket, and I'm not ready to give up cricket yet. It's always a big call when you have anything surgical done to your back but I'm comfortable with the decision and optimistic about the outcome."

The back problem had hampered him to the extent that he became self-conscious of his place and contribution to the team, and chose to play only grade cricket. "I was too much of a liability to play at state level. I could usually get through a day's play but the next day was an absolute nightmare."

The reason for the back trouble, Carseldine said, could be traced back to stress fractures he suffered as a teenager. His reluctance to undergo surgery is not a new phenomenon. Sportsmen are wary of the effects of an operation, for they might not be able to bowl, bat, or throw the same way again. Carseldine admitted as much, saying that there was a chance of him cutting out his left-arm swing bowling after the operation, and opting to only play as a batsman. He said that being able to do that would be a boon in itself. "And I won't be getting the pain which I'm getting now."

But with the nature of the problem and the surgery, Carseldine won't play cricket until December 25. Queensland, who've seen the best of him, will be looking forward to his return. The last time he played a full season, in 2002-03, he scored 709 runs at 44.31, and took eight wickets at less than 20.