Hampshire have been hit by the news that Australia seamer Jackson Bird, who has not yet played for them, is returning home after scans showed his shoulder injury is worse than expected.
The 28-year-old, who has three Test caps but is not part of Australia’s Ashes squad, was due to be available to Hampshire as an overseas player for the first three months of this season. The time he will be out for is not yet known.
The county, who have started life back in LV= County Championship Division One with a loss to Sussex and a draw with Warwickshire, hope Bird can play for them later this term.
Hampshire, currently hosting Nottinghamshire in the Championship, are looking into the possibility of bringing West Indies paceman Fidel Edwards to the club earlier than first planned.
The 33-year old was due to arrive in time for Hampshire’s opening Royal London One-Day Cup match against Sussex Sharks on July 27. Edwards, a Kolpak player, could be available from the middle of May if an earlier move is confirmed.
For Bird, it is a second false-start in county cricket after a back injury stopped him representing Northamptonshire last year.