Hampshire batter Joe Weatherley sidelined with fractured hand

Fit-again Aneurin Donald comes into the Hants squad for the visit of Gloucestershire to The Ageas Bowl

Joe Weatherley faces a period on the sidelines after the Hampshire opener suffered a fractured hand against Lancashire.

Hants have revealed no further details nor a timeline regarding the 25-year-old's recovery, but he will definitely miss the LV= Insurance County Championship visit of Gloucestershire starting on Thursday (May 5).

Fit-again Aneurin Donald has come into the squad looking for his first senior red-ball outing since 2019.

Scott Currie is also part of the group as he bids for his first appearance of the campaign.

Weatherley made one and nought during the drawn match with Lancs at The Ageas Bowl, with the fourth day being washed out without a ball being bowled.

^{Injury has meant Donald hasn't played a first-class game for nearly three years (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)}

The ex-Kent loanee also spilt two catches in the Red Rose first innings, letting Tom Bailey and Phil Salt off the hook.

He started the season in impressive form with a first-class best score of 168 against Somerset in the opening round of the Championship.

Nick Gubbins hit centuries in both innings against Lancashire but is ruing the misfortune of his top-order teammate.

"Really gutted to see Joe miss out because he's worked really hard through the winter and he started superbly up the top of the order," he said.

"But it's sport, isn't it? These things happen but we'll support him through it and he'll come in and support the lads, I'm sure."

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