Achilles tear brings Altimari up short of 400

AN achilles tendon tear has ended the cricketing career of Manifold Heights president John Altimari.

The 52-year-old local champion was coming in to bowl the second over of Mano’s one-day firsts clash against Guild-Saints when he “felt something go click and snap”.

“I was just running in to bowl, felt something go click and snap, and that was the end of it,” Altimari said.

“I’ve never done my achilles before — popped a calf a couple of times, but never the achilles.

“Unfortunately, this time it was the achilles and the calf.”

The veteran had produced a memorable summer with 17 wickets at 10.8 across all grades, but was cut down five wickets short of a career 400 scalps for Mano.

“That’s it, I’m mate,” he said. finished

“I’m 52. To do an achilles, I’m going to be out of action for a good three months, so I can’t afford to do that again for a game of cricket.

“The whites are hung up, mate, that’s the end of them.

“I’m sitting on 395 wickets for Manifold, so I’m five short.

“I’ve got to find five wickets somewhere — surely they’re out there — but that’s it, I’m done, no more.”

But Altimari, who will be off work for a some time, said he would not be lost to the club.

“There’s always something to do up there,” he said.

“We’ll move forward — this year’s nearly finished.

“The seconds will probably play finals, the thirds aren’t out of it, the fourths will play finals and the fifths are still not out of it too, so we could have four sides playing finals this year.

“(But) I’m happy with what I’ve achieved in cricket.

“As my wife said, I’ll have to live vicariously through my sons.”