STOCKTON-Raymond Terrace batsman Sam Jenkinson rates himself a ‘‘50-50’’ chance of recovering from a dislocated shoulder in time for the Newcastle district cricket final on Saturday.
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Jenkinson suffered his second dislocation last Saturday in Stockton’s outright semi-final victory over University at No.1 Sportsground while playing a cover drive.
On March 8 his shoulder popped out when representing Raymond Terrace against Western Suburbs in the final of the Maitland and District Twenty20 competition at Robins Oval.
Jenkinson retired hurt on Saturday at 23 not out and then returned near the end of the innings.
In the second innings he batted at No.11 in obvious discomfort and scratched out four not out.
Asked on Thursday if his shoulder would be able to handle an examination against the star-studded Merewether line-up in the decider, Jenkinson said: ‘‘It’s OK, but it’s not brilliant.
‘‘It’s probably 50-50 at this stage. I’m not too sure.
‘‘I’ll stop in at the physio tomorrow afternoon and we’ll have our last say then.’’
Jenkinson was been undergoing regular physiotherapy in a bid to strengthen the shoulder joint since the initial dislocation.
The odds of returning from a dislocation in a week appear slim.
The 27-year-old, who is one of two Terrace recruits in the side, has never appeared in a final for Stockton and is desperate to play.
However, Jenkinson is a realist.
‘‘If I can’t score any runs there’s going to be no point in me playing,’’ he said.
If Jenkinson is ruled out, it would leave a big hole in the Stockton order.
Jenkinson has scored 438 runs at 31.29 this season, behind only veteran Terry Crittenden (467).
Leigh Osmond, Dan Foster and Joe Clarke are the main candidates to come into the side if Jenkinson decides he would be a passenger against the competition’s premier bowling attack led by Mark Cameron and Sam Gilmour.
Merewether have no injury concerns in their camp and are expected to field the same side that defeated Hamilton-Wickham last Sunday in their semi-final at Townson Oval.
