Somerset will be without injured opener Alviro Petersen for the rest of the season after the South African opted to return home for rehabilitation on his knee.
The 33-year-old has been sidelined since the Proteas’ tour of Zimbabwe early last month, but returned to Somerset in the hope of regaining fitness before the end of the season.
The club and player have, however, now reluctantly given up hope he might return for the club’s final two LV= County Championship matches.
“It is very unfortunate that Alviro has not been able to recover from his knee injury sufficiently since his return to the club from his Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe Test tours where he injured himself,” Somerset director of cricket Dave Nosworthy said.
“We took the stance at the time to try to assist him in his recovery, in the hope that he would recover in time to be able to play in our last few County Championship matches.
“Unfortunately and as luck might have it this has not been the case. Alviro has not recovered as well as we expected and he is thus returning to South Africa to undergo further medical examinations and the necessary actions as required.
“We as a club wish him all of the best during his recovery period and for his season back home, and would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his superb efforts these past two seasons.
“On the positive side of things, Alviro’s absence will again create an opportunity for one of our squad players to develop and to perform during these last two very important championship matches that we still have left to play.”
Petersen admitted he was disappointed to leave the club before the end of his second season at Taunton.
The right-hander scored 1167 runs at an average of 43.22 in 17 first-class matches, with his best of 167 coming on debut against Surrey in April 2013.
“I am obviously very sad to be leaving Somerset like this before the season finishes,” he said.
“I would like to thank everyone at Somerset, the players, the support staff, Guy Lavender, Dave Nosworthy and everyone involved with club, for their help and support during the time that I have been involved at the County Ground.
“They have made me feel like I belong and they have made me feel part of the family. The Somerset supporters have been brilliant to me during the time that I have been here and I am going to miss all of this.”
Petersen added: “Somerset is a fantastic club and I am sorry to be going back but given my circumstances I think this is the best thing for me to be doing.”