Three English cricketers, including skipper Michael Vaughan, escaped a scare while bodysurfing in the Indian Ocean when they were caught in a tide that was about to carry them out to sea, Sri Lankan officials said on Tuesday.
Gareth Batty, the Worcestershire spinner, sustained cuts and bruises after hitting some sharp rocks in the water, said an official who was involved in the rescue on Monday. Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard escaped without injuries, he said.
The three got caught in a tide while bodysurfing near their hotel in this southern port city.
Hoggard managed to swim to shore and Vaughan held onto the rocks. Batty was rescued by lifeguards.
The injuries did not stop Batty from playing in the series opener against Sri Lanka, only his second Test for England.
The incident was the second bit of bad luck to hit the team, which also lost former captain Nasser Hussain from the first Test when he pulled out after complaining of fever and body ache.
Hussain, 35, was diagnosed with a viral infection.
{{/usCountry}}Hussain, 35, was diagnosed with a viral infection.
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