Phil Salt and Gary Ballance out of first round of 2021 County Championship due to freak injuries

Sussex batsman Salt will miss the game against Lancashire at Old Trafford after damaging his foot in a cycling collision, while a training-ground accident has left Ballance to sit out the visit of Glamorgan to Headingley with concussion

Freak injuries have ruled Phil Salt and Gary Ballance out of the opening round of County Championship fixtures.

Sussex batsman Salt will miss the game against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford after damaging his foot in a cycling collision, while a training-ground accident has left Ballance to sit out the visit of Glamorgan to Emerald Headingley with concussion.

A Sussex statement did not put a timeframe on Salt's absence from the first-team picture at Hove.

It read: "An estimate of the time required for Phil to return to action will be made following further imaging and consultation with a specialist".

Ballance, meanwhile, will have to wait a little longer to make his return in a Yorkshire shirt after missing the 2020 season as he suffered from illness and anxiety.

Reports suggest Ballance was struck by a ball in the nets. He is expected to recover in time for the White Rose's second match of the season, against Kent next week.

CHAMPIONSHIP ESSENTIALS: ROUND 1 (Click on each match to view the preview)

Group 1

Essex v Worcestershire 

Nottinghamshire v Durham 

Warwickshire v Derbyshire 

Group 2

Middlesex v Somerset

Leicestershire v Hampshire

Gloucestershire v Surrey

Group 3

Northamptonshire v Kent

Lancashire v Sussex

Yorkshire v Glamorgan