Lee Carseldine
Lee Andrew Carseldine (born 17 November 1977 in Nambour, Queensland) is a professional Australian cricketer who currently plays for the IPL team Rajasthan Royals, having previously played for Queensland and the Adelaide Strikers. Always a precocious talent, Carseldine's years agonising back stress fractures and degenerative disc problems forced him into premature cricket retirement in 2004 after 24 first class games. In a bid for a new lease on life, Carseldine flew to Melbourne for spinal fusion surgery, inserting a 3 cm titanium disc, four 4 cm screws and two 7 cm rods into his back. Following this complications from a diagnostic test saw him rushed back to hospital and unable to walk – he had contracted septicaemia and the potentially deadly golden staph infection.
Comeback
After years of rehabilitation Carseldine's renaissance as a cricketer firstly came through playing 3rd Grade for his club team Valley District Cricket Club before working his way up through amazing club performances before winning a surprise recall for the Bulls in November 2007. A versatile left-hander, in 2008-09 he picked up 595 runs in the Sheffield Shield, 477 in the FR Cup at 43.36 and an incredible 298 in the Twenty20 competition, averaging 99.33 at a strike-rate of 134.84. Not only did the returns get him a spot in the Rajasthan Royals IPL side, but they also gained him the Bulls' Twenty20, players' player prizes and numerous teams and awards for the Australian Cricketers' Association.
Such was Carseldine's season that Matthew Hayden, in his farewell speech at the awards dinner, suggested they should make a movie about his comeback. Carseldine was also heralded in the Courier Mail in the top 20 courageous athletes of 2008.
Study
During his extended absence from the game, Lee undertook and completed a double masters (MBA and Master of Applied Finance ) at the University of Queensland.
Retirement & Career
Carseldine retired from first class cricket in 2011 and continued to freelance himself in the T20 format which saw him play in the Bangladesh Premier League and KFC Big Bash until 2012. Carseldine continues to be involved in cricket through media commitments with regular commetating on ABC Grandstand and Fox Sports whilst also being employed by the ACA as a Past Player Welfare and Game Development Coordinator. Carseldine also commits time to the Qld Bulls Masters which is a non-for profit organisation that helps foster and develop cricket throughout Queensland whilst also provide community support and assistance to local charities.
Away from cricket, in 2014 Carseldine joined Grant Broadcasters and accepted a role as a breakfast co-host for the Doc, Lee and Lynda Big Brekky Show for Hot 91.1 FM.