Bright side to McGain’s shoulder injury

The legspinner Bryce McGain almost played for Australia in India but had to go home for shoulder surgery. Despite the untimely setback, McGain, 36, tells Peter Lalor in the Australian he is enjoying the break.

In between books and rehab he has found afternoons and weekends free to watch son Liam play his first season with a junior suburban side. Dad delights in the young fellow's love of the game but winces at every enthusiastic slide toward the ball. "All I can think about is 'how I'm going to get the stains out?"' McGain says.

With his right arm out of action, McGain has been bowling with the other to the boy in the nets. "He hits me all over the place, we're having great fun." Injuries, McGain says, aren't all dark clouds and he's even enjoying monitoring his own progress.

Phillip Hughes is only 20, but the push is growing for the New South Wales opener to be part of the Australian set-up. Jamie Pandaram meets him for the Sydney Morning Herald.