Rankin fitness setback

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Warwickshire expect former Ireland fast bowler Boyd Rankin to be fit close to the start of the new season even though his recovery from a foot injury is taking longer than expected.

Rankin, who retired from Ireland cricket last year to pursue his ambition of playing Test cricket for England, was forced to pull out of the England Lions tour of Australia after he suffered a reaction to a foot injury that ruled him out for half of last season. Rankin was initially advised to rest for six weeks but his recovery period has now doubled to three months.

A specialist has now fitted new and improved insoles in Rankin’s bowling boots in an attempt to eradicate the ‘hot spots’ that have troubled him for two years.

Rankin has been included in Warwickshire squad for their pre-season trip to Barbados, which gets underway on March 5, when he is expected to begin bowling again.

But Rankin will not travel onwards to the United Arab Emirates to play for Warwickshire in their Champion County match against MCC in Abu Dhabi.

Instead he will remain at Edgbaston with Tony Frost, Warwickshire’s recently-appointed batting and second team coach, and increase his bowling workload.

Meanwhile, batsman Sam Hain, one of Warwickshire’s new recruits, will miss the first month of the season having suffered a shoulder injury playing club cricket in his native Australia.

The Australia Under-19 player suffered ligament damage and a chipped bone in his right shoulder when he fell while fielding. Hain, who has British parents, will be out of action until the end of April but he will be part of the squad in Barbados next month when he will have the opportunity to get to know his new team-mates.

Hain 17, made his second team debut for Warwickshire as a 14 year-old in 2011 having been recommended to them by former county captain Michael Powell who coached him at Loretto School in Edinburgh.

Date: 19/02/2013 12:17:32 by Paul Bolton
In: Warwickshire | Today |