Lance Morris is fit and firing after missing 12 months of cricket following serious back surgery. (ABC News: Tom Wildie)
It has been just over a year since Lance Morris had the surgery he hopes will save his cricket career.
For three years before going under the knife, the Western Australian fast bowler had struggled to string together games as he tried to manage a fracture in his spine.
"I was going under an MRI machine every six weeks and just checking up and it would occasionally get a bit worse after a bigger day," Morris said.
Lance Morris regularly hit 150kph before surgery. He's confident he'll be back there again. (Getty Images: Jason McCawley)
Lance Morris regularly hit 150kph before surgery. He's confident he'll be back there again. (Getty Images: Jason McCawley)
Morris was first called into Australia's Test squad in late 2022 after a stunning start to the Sheffield Shield season, and it appeared just a matter of time until he pulled on the baggy green.
Since then, he has played just three one-day internationals, six Shield matches and 22 Big Bash games, as injury repeatedly left him sidelined.
Ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season, Morris decided enough was enough and elected to undergo pars stabilisation surgery, which involved bolts and wire being put into his lower back.
"I was playing a game, missing a game and really trying to pick and choose which games to take on without overdoing the load," Morris said.
"I was pulling up with back soreness as I was trying to get ready for a series and I didn't want to carry that into the season.
"We had tried to go, I guess, the natural way about healing the back and giving it a good three-months stints to recover, doing absolutely nothing and then starting again, but we just weren't really having any luck.
No speed limit
State teammate Cameron Green, Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah and England spearhead Jofra Archer are among others who have travelled to New Zealand to see specialist Rowan Schouten for the surgery in recent years.
Their returns to cricket have left Morris optimistic he will be as quick as he was before injuries started taking their toll.
Jofra Archer is one of several high-profile players to undergo pars stabilisation surgery and make a successful return to international cricket. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)
Jofra Archer is one of several high-profile players to undergo pars stabilisation surgery and make a successful return to international cricket. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)
"That [a loss of pace] was a huge question for me leading into the surgery because I knew that was the asset that made me potentially selectable for red-ball cricket," he said.
"I had to look around at other guys that have had the surgery, the likes of Jofra, Jasprit Bumrah, the guys that have returned to Test cricket at the same speed if not better.
"I've got one eye on the speed gun at all times to see where things are at, but I'm pretty happy with where it's at."
Australia has an enormous Test summer on the horizon, with a visit by New Zealand, a tour of India and the 150th Anniversary Test in March, before the Ashes in England in the winter.
Lance Morris looked on the cusp of a Test debut after touring with Australian side in 2023. ((AAP Image/Darren England))
Lance Morris looked on the cusp of a Test debut after touring with Australian side in 2023. ((AAP Image/Darren England))
If last summer is anything to go by, there will be opportunities for the country's fast bowlers across the 18 Tests through to the end of the Ashes.
Josh Hazlewood missed last summer's Ashes with hamstring and ankle issues, while Pat Cummins only played once in that series, leaving Mitchell Starc as the only first-choice bowler available.
Morris, who lost his Cricket Australia (CA) contract because of his surgery, has an eye on a Test return.
"Basically, targeting Shield games where we see fit and prioritising them is how I got around the Test squad in the first place and how I think I'll put my name back up for a potential selection.
"There was also some pretty pretty positive conversations [with CA] that I'm still a player of interest, and it's just a matter of getting back and bowling fast in front of the group."