I note recent reports confirming that Nathan Braken, who played 116 1 day internationals for Australia, has made a claim against Cricket Australia, alleging a negligent failure on its employed medical and physio staff, to appreciate he required knee surgery, after an injury during a game against England in 2007.

It is alleged that an MRI scan performed after such game ought to have lead to identification of the need for him to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery.  Mr Braken claims that his cricket career has been lost, due to the failure to arrange such knee surgery at that time.

In my view, this case is part of a growing trend.  

As Australian sportsman’s potential earnings continue to increase + authorities and teams provide ever increasing management of health, diet etc, there is an increasing likelihood of litigation when injuries are suffered.  

In the AFL there has in the last couple of years been trends with patterns of particular forms of injury being suffered by particular teams, potentially tied to training or strength/conditioning practices at the particular club…  I was interested to hear of Essendon + Collingwood’s cutting edge practices to seek to assist in their prep for the Anzac Day game.

In my view, it may be only time before career ending injuries leads to litigation and a court ultimately reviewing the reasonableness + scientific justification for some of the more cutting edge/controversial practices.