New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, whose career-best performance helped the country win the Pune Test match against India, is not part of the team’s playing XI for the third Test of the three-match series. For New Zealand to reach the final of the World Test Championship, they need to win all their remaining matches, including the series against England and this match against India. At the draw for the third Test, New Zealand captain Tom Latham revealed why the 32-year-old was left out of the squad. Santner apparently had a side strain, an injury that happens when the tendons and muscles of the oblique muscles are torn or overstretched. A relatively common injury among fast bowlers due to the repetitive bowling action, the bending, twisting and straining involved can lead to severe discomfort and pain.
Lateral strain is most common among professional cricketers, but is also seen in amateur players who play recreationally. Any activity that requires sudden “twisting” movements, intense physical exertion, and heavy lifting can put you at risk for this injury. If you enjoy playing cricket or engage in activities that require similar physical movements and are experiencing physical discomfort, use the list below from sports injury experts to see if these are symptoms of lateral strain:

Side strain symptoms
1) Aching pain on one side of the abdomen, especially during body movement. It can be mild discomfort at first, gradually progressing to severe pain.
2) Tenderness in the affected area. If you touch the muscle or the side of the body, you will feel discomfort.
3) Spasms or involuntary contractions on the abdomen
4) Medium to intense body stiffness. It can also affect your range of motion and ability to do normal activities like sneezing, coughing, or even deep breathing.
5) Pain that gradually radiates to the hip, back or even the pelvic area. It can also be difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the pain.

How is side strain treated?
If you feel these symptoms getting worse, make sure you rest well, giving your body enough time to heal. Every few hours, apply ice packs to the affected areas for about 20 minutes to reduce swelling. Compression dressings for support may also help some people. At the same time, schedule timely consultations with your coach and doctor to prevent further complications. If not treated at the right time, the injury can lead to prolonged recovery time and extreme pain, according to experts. New Zealand vs India has been trending on Google Trends with over 200,000 search volume for more than 12 hours.