Bushrangers Player Update
Dirk Nannes and John Hastings ruled out of IPL
DEC Bushrangers Dirk Nannes and John Hastings have ended their IPL seasons prematurely after injury has side-lined the pair for the remainder of the tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore paceman Dirk Nannes will miss the rest of the competition due to a niggling side strain which will see him out for six weeks.
The 35 year old sustained the injury after Bangalore's second match of the tournament against the Mumbai Indians who took out the contest with a nine wicket win.
Nannes who only bowled one over for the match - despite it being a wicket maiden - went off the field straight after to receive treatment.
"After the fourth ball I felt a bit of tightness coming on, so I went off just to get it checked out. It turned out I had actually strained it," he said.
One of this year's marquee players for the Royals, Nannes was bought into the side for $650,000 at the player auction in January.
Venturing away from the Delhi Daredevils - a popular team amongst the Victorian players, also headed by DEC Bushranger Coach Greg Shippard, Nannes's time with Bangalore was disappointingly cut short.
The Royals have made a very ordinary start to their 2011 IPL campaign, losing three of their first four matches and currently sitting at the bottom of the points table.
The loss of Nannes comes as a huge blow, but West Indian power hitter Chris Gayle has already been approached to replace him.
Gayle will have to get approval from the West Indies Cricket Board to join Bangalore despite his own recent stint with injury and a national tour against Pakistan scheduled to commence today.
Hastings, who joined the Kochi Kerala Tuskers after wrapping up national duties in Bangladesh, will also exit the tournament early, returning home for scans on his shoulder.
The 26 year old pace bowler, will for-go the rest of the IPL to be fighting fit to contend for a place in the Australian side for the tour of Sri Lanka in September.
Hastings is due to arrive in Melbourne soon whilst Nannes will begin his rehabilitation process as he remains overseas.
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