Metters' injury worse than feared

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Warwickshire slow left-armer Chris Metters is facing another lengthy absence having suffered a recurrence of the shoulder injury that forced him to miss all of last season.

Metters stayed in England while the rest of Warwickshire’s squad flew to Barbados yesterday and he underwent surgery in Manchester today.

The operation revealed that the damage to Metters’s left shoulder was more extensive than Warwickshire first suspected and a long lay-off is expected.

“The damage has been fixed but the injury was worse than we expected. At this stage it’s too early to say exactly how long Chris will be out but it is likely to be a lengthy absence,” said Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown.

Metters, 22, made a spectacular debut against Worcestershire two years ago when he took six wickets on his debut at Edgbaston.
He was Warwickshire’s frontline spinner for most of his first season at Edgbaston but would have played a supporting role to New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel had he been fit last summer.

Patel signed a two-year contract last season but might miss the early part of the season if he is included in New Zealand’s squad for their tour to England.

Warwickshire have Paul Best, another slow left-armer, as back-up to Patel in the absence of Metters.

Best is still at Cambridge University but Warwickshire expect him to be available for county cricket for all but one week of the season when he has exams.

Date: 06/03/2013 14:29:46 by Paul Bolton
In: Warwickshire | Today | England |