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England fast bowler Brydon Carse has revealed his plan to stay fit throughout the Ashes: he’s cutting a hole in his boot to save the second toe on his left foot from injury.
Carse admitted during the summer that he considered amputation, following a serious cut that became infected and ruled him out of the game for three months.
But his boot manufacturers have supplied him with enough pairs to get through the five-match series in Australia, with a specially cut hole relieving the pressure on the damaged toe.
‘During the India Test series, I struggled in the first couple of games,’ he said. ‘I probably went through five or six pairs in the first two Tests. But I’ve got a little hole in the second toe. That’s it – I couldn’t be in a more comfortable position.
‘New Balance have been really supportive of me. As long as they keep churning out pairs of boots, I’ll be happy.’
Carse’s efforts against India were not always reflected in his figures, with his nine wickets costing more than 60 each. But Australia use the Kookaburra ball, which Carse enjoyed success with during his first winter as a Test cricketer in Pakistan and New Zealand, claiming 27 wickets at under 20.
Brydon Carse showed good form with the ball in England's summer series against India
But Carse said he struggled in the first two Tests after suffering discomfort with his toes
Carse, who also impressed with the bat for England, 'went through five or six pairs' of boots
‘It’s just a personal preference, but sometimes the Dukes can have quite a pronounced seam and feels quite big in your hand,’ he said at the PCA Awards in partnership with Toyota. ‘The Kookaburra can be slightly smaller but slightly wider, and probably just feels a bit smaller in the hand.’
Carse added that his Durham and England teammates Ben Stokes and Mark Wood were both ‘going well’ in their recovery from injury. ‘Ben is looking near enough 100% fit and so is Mark. I’ve been bowling with them, and it’s exciting to see where they have got to after their setbacks during the summer. They will be raring to go.’
Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell believes he can use England’s white-ball trip to New Zealand to make a bid for a starting place at the Ashes.
‘Definitely – form’s a big thing in sport,’ he said. ‘I’ll just try and put in performances to win games for England, and if that does end up in an Ashes call-up into the 11, then I’ll be taking that with both hands.’
