Somerset hit by injury concerns

By Richard Latham

Somerset's hopes of winning a first ever County Championship title have been dealt a series of injury blows.

When Marcus Trescothick underwent surgery on his right ankle last Thursday the damage turned out to be worse than at first thought. A tendon was actually ruptured, which means the original estimate about the skipper being out of action for six weeks was optimistic. It is more likely to be a minimum of eight weeks.

That means Trescothick may well not be fit for the start of the Twenty20 Cup campaign, as well as missing more important Championship matches and the opening fixtures in the Clydesdale Bank 40, which begin for Somerset with a visit to Surrey on Friday May 4.

The other bad injury news affects the club's seam attack. Steve Kirby has been found to have two tears close to one another in his quad muscles and hip flexor, which means he is likely to be out for six weeks.

Youngster Adam Dibble is under treatment for a side strain and he can expect to face a similar spell on the sidelines, while Gemaal Hussain, who tore a hamstring back on March 31, will return no sooner than the Championship game against Surrey at The Oval, starting on May 16.

Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose is looking at entering the loan market for a new bowler. But at this early stage of the season he admits it is particularly difficult to sign players on that basis.


Date: 29/04/2012 11:29:48 by Richard Latham
In: Today | Somerset |