Symonds hints at heavy workload being reason behind injury

Sydney, Feb 9 (UNI) It seems the training regime designed to get the Australian team in perfect shape before next month's World Cup has ended up doing more harm than good as all-rounder Andrew Symonds today hinted that the tough workload may have contributed to his bicep injury.

Symonmds' participation in the mega-event is doubtful after he ruptured his right bicep muscle while batting in one of the matches of the ongoing-triseries against England and New Zealand.

The Aussie players were on strict training regime at that time but the progamme has become a bit mild after Symonds' injury.

The all-rounder said he first experienced pain in his biceps muscle two weeks before he actually got injured.

''It had been sore for 10 days or two weeks leading up, but when it's sore I don't throw as much and just let it settle and just get on with the game,'' he told Channel 9 today.

''That's what I've done in previous years but this time I just let it go. I'd been doing a lot of throwing and what have you leading up, trying to get our fitness for the World Cup, so our work volume had gone up,'' he added, hinting that the tough training schedule may have cost him a chance to pay in the World Cup.

The big-hitting right hander is, however, not completely out of the picture and the Aussies have already said that they were willing to take him along at the risk of having to replace him in the middle of the tournament.

Australia will reveal its 15-man World Cup squad by February 13, which is the last date to submit the final squads for the tournament.

UNI