Frustrated Skipper Misses T20 Action
26 June 2014
Michael Klinger has been speaking of his frustration over a rare injury lay-off at a crucial stage of Gloucestershire’s season.
The skipper is sidelined with a broken toe, sustained while batting in the NatWest T20 Blast match against Hampshire at Southampton last Friday, and misses tonight's clash with Middlesex at Lord's (6.15pm start).
Gloucestershire Squad v Middlesex: Chris Dent, Alex Gidman (cpt), Ian Cockbain, Hamish Marshall, Benny Howell, Adam Rouse (wkt), Will Gidman, Tom Smith, Jack Taylor, David Payne, Graeme McCarter, Will Tavaré
Michael is determined to return to action as soon as possible, admitting that he finds it hard not being out in the middle to lead his team.
He said: “While x-rays have shown the toe is broken, the recovery period is a bit of an unknown.
“The actual bone probably takes three or four weeks to heal. But I am hoping that when it starts feeling better and I can put pressure on my front foot while batting and running I’ll be able to play sooner than that.
“I’d back myself to be good enough not to get hit on the same place again, but that wasn’t the case the other night!
“It’s freaky because all batsmen during their careers get hit on the foot plenty of times and at worst it usually means some bruising.
“I thought that’s what had happened initially, but it got much worse overnight and I realised it was something more serious.
“I’ll definitely miss the next couple of T20 games and probably the Championship game with Essex, starting next Sunday.
“A more realistic target may be the four-day match against Hampshire (starting on July 7th), but perhaps I can get a T20 fixture in before that.
“It’s hugely frustrating to be out after the team had won two Championship games and achieved a really good draw against Surrey.
“From a personal point of view, I was coming off hundreds in the last two matches and seemed to be getting on a roll, so it would have been nice to keep that going.”
Wicketkeeper Adam Rouse makes his Gloucestershire debut against Middlesex, having signed on a one-month trial.
