Reece Topley faces a long lay-off after breaking a bone in his right hand © Getty Images
England bowler Reece Topley has broken a bone in his right hand while batting during his Hampshire debut.
Topley, the left-arm seamer who recently returned from England’s World T20 campaign in India, suffered the injury while making a career-best 15 on the first day of the season against Warwickshire at the Ageas Bowl. Early in his innings he was rapped on the hand by Warwickshire quick Boyd Rankin but batted on in no obvious discomfort.
But an X-ray on Monday morning – the match’s second day, which was completely washed out – revealed at least one broken bone. A visit to a specialist later in the day was due to reveal the extent of the injury. An update on Topley’s condition is expected some time after lunch on Tuesday.
Topley told the BBC: “I was hit on the back of the hand and an X-ray this morning has revealed at least one fracture.
“There’s one fracture there just below the knuckles and possibly another. I’m going to see a specialist later. It’s frustrating it came while batting, but that’s one of the risks when you play cricket.”
Topley, who joined Hampshire from Essex in the close season and has yet to bowl a ball for the county, played in England’s first two matches of the World T20 but had been relegated to the sidelines by the time of the final against West Indies in Kolkata after taking a combined total of one for 55 in England’s opening two games.
Topley will now face a lengthy lay-off, and while England do not play white-ball cricket again until they host Sri Lanka in the first of five ODIs at Trent Bridge on June 21, a recent reminder of the potential damage of hand injuries comes from Surrey’s Zafar Ansari. The allrounder was selected for England’s tour of the UAE in September, only to injure his thumb fielding on the same day. Eight months later, he will make his return for Surrey’s second team on Wednesday.
Hampshire will resume their innings on 189 for 8 on Tuesday at the Ageas Bowl after the entire second day’s play was lost to rain.
Will Macpherson writes on cricket for the Guardian, ESPNcricinfo and All Out Cricket. @willis_macp
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo