Australia fast bowler John Hastings on Tuesday announced sudden retirement from international cricket due to a serious health issue. The right-arm bowler is suffering from bleeding in his lungs that led to his retirement. The unfortunate incident shocked the cricketing world as the 33-year old has played in all three formats for the Australian team.
Hastings himself revealed last month that he could miss the Big Bash League next year, but the retirement news came as a sad news for Australian cricket. Hasting was part of Sydney Sixers from last May and has contributed to the team in various wins.
While, the Aussie player said that his health is fine at the moment and he will continue his role regarding media commitments. He also revealed that the main problem in his lungs occurs during bowling.
Talking to Fairfax media, Hastings said, “I’ve gone through an extensive testing process. I suppose the important thing to note is that I’m actually in good health. I’ve gone through stress tests and bronchoscopes, and angiogram bronchoscopes and all this sort of stuff. It’s been quite invasive, and lengthy I guess.”
“It’s (only) when I bowl. The pressure at the crease, little blood vessels in my lungs burst. That determines that I cough up blood on a regular basis when I’m trying to bowl. It’s a really scary thing. I’m training now, doing F45, lifting weights or boxing it doesn’t happen. It’s really only the pressure of the actual landing of bowling, "he added.
“There was just a lot of grey area surrounding long-term health, whether it was causing any damage, and if there was any potential to have a fatal bleed on the field. They just really couldn’t say yes or no. And I wasn’t happy with that.”
Hastings has played only one Test while was part of 29 ODIs and nine T20Is in his short international career for the Kangaroos.
"There was just a lot of grey area surrounding long-term health, whether it was causing any damage, and if there was any potential to have a fatal bleed on the field. They just really couldn’t say yes or no. And I wasn’t happy with that” The right-arm pacer further added regarding his health.
