England leg-spinner Mason Crane and Brad Taylor are major fitness concerns for Hampshire ahead of Monday’s Royal London Cup semi-final tie against Yorkshire Vikings at the Ageas Bowl, 11am.
Crane suffered a recurrence of his on-going lower back problems and bowled only one over in Thursday’s Second XI T20 Cup Isle of Wight double banker against the MCCA Unicorns.
Taylor took no part in either match after twisting his right-ankle in the Newclose warm-up and looked in considerable discomfort.
On the positive side, both Liam Dawson and Sam Northeast emerged unscathed from recent finger breaks as Hampshire secured a victory double, Jimmy Adams scoring an unbeaten century in the island sunshine.
Director of Cricket Giles White is optimistic Crane will be fit for the Yorkshire match, but the sight of the 21-year old pulling up after only one over of the opening Unicorns match (which Hampshire won by six wickets chasing 107-7) is of real concern.
The Lancing College raised leg spinner, who made his Test debut in the final Test of the Ashes in Sydney, was sent home within the first few days of the tour of New Zealand having been diagnosed with a partial stress fracture in his lower back.
He made his comeback for Hampshire a couple of weeks ago but, after seven Royal London Cup games, he felt further discomfort in his back and was not included in the side for last weekend’s Championship innings defeat by Surrey.
Crane, who recently under-went a scan, will be concerned that he has experienced any further discomfort so soon and after a relatively light bowling load.
While Hampshire must adopt a ‘wait and see’ stance on Crane, the news if far more positive on Dawson (who made 35 in Hampshire’s first match) and Northeast, who followed up his first match 28 with a half-century in Hampshire’s 169-4.
It was the former Kent captain’s first visit to the middle since suffering a double fracture of his left little finger in training a short while after hitting a maiden 129 against Surrey at the Kia Oval in late April.
Reflecting on his first-ever visit to the Isle of Wight, Northeast said: “It was an nice opportunity to get out into the middle again. It’s all been very frustrating.
“When we fielded in the opening T20, it was all about getting a bit of confidence. It was a case of being sensible and trying to keep out of the firing line and avoid any bruising or re-injuring it. It was largely precautionary.
“Batting was fine. I was able to grip the top handle of the bat okay, The finger was just a bit stiff, so there was bottom hand, especially in the second knock.
“It was just a case of getting that rhythm back. I had a net on Wednesday and two T20 knocks against the Unicorns, so after six weeks out it was good to get back into it again.
I’m hoping to be okay for Monday and plan to have another few net sessions beforehand.”
* Second XI T20 scores –
Unicorns 107-7 (Kilbee 37, Topley 2-12, Dawson 2-17) Hampshire 113-4 (Dawson 35, Northeast 28, Adams 21). Hampshire won by six wickets
Hampshire 169-4 (Adams 100*, Northeast 50) Unicorns 145-6 (McKiernan 50*, Topley 2-8. Hampshire won by 24 runs.
Crane suffered a recurrence of his on-going lower back problems and bowled only one over in Thursday’s Second XI T20 Cup Isle of Wight double banker against the MCCA Unicorns.
Taylor took no part in either match after twisting his right-ankle in the Newclose warm-up and looked in considerable discomfort.
On the positive side, both Liam Dawson and Sam Northeast emerged unscathed from recent finger breaks as Hampshire secured a victory double, Jimmy Adams scoring an unbeaten century in the island sunshine.
Director of Cricket Giles White is optimistic Crane will be fit for the Yorkshire match, but the sight of the 21-year old pulling up after only one over of the opening Unicorns match (which Hampshire won by six wickets chasing 107-7) is of real concern.
The Lancing College raised leg spinner, who made his Test debut in the final Test of the Ashes in Sydney, was sent home within the first few days of the tour of New Zealand having been diagnosed with a partial stress fracture in his lower back.
He made his comeback for Hampshire a couple of weeks ago but, after seven Royal London Cup games, he felt further discomfort in his back and was not included in the side for last weekend’s Championship innings defeat by Surrey.
Crane, who recently under-went a scan, will be concerned that he has experienced any further discomfort so soon and after a relatively light bowling load.
While Hampshire must adopt a ‘wait and see’ stance on Crane, the news if far more positive on Dawson (who made 35 in Hampshire’s first match) and Northeast, who followed up his first match 28 with a half-century in Hampshire’s 169-4.
It was the former Kent captain’s first visit to the middle since suffering a double fracture of his left little finger in training a short while after hitting a maiden 129 against Surrey at the Kia Oval in late April.
Reflecting on his first-ever visit to the Isle of Wight, Northeast said: “It was an nice opportunity to get out into the middle again. It’s all been very frustrating.
“When we fielded in the opening T20, it was all about getting a bit of confidence. It was a case of being sensible and trying to keep out of the firing line and avoid any bruising or re-injuring it. It was largely precautionary.
“Batting was fine. I was able to grip the top handle of the bat okay, The finger was just a bit stiff, so there was bottom hand, especially in the second knock.
“It was just a case of getting that rhythm back. I had a net on Wednesday and two T20 knocks against the Unicorns, so after six weeks out it was good to get back into it again.
I’m hoping to be okay for Monday and plan to have another few net sessions beforehand.”
* Second XI T20 scores –
Unicorns 107-7 (Kilbee 37, Topley 2-12, Dawson 2-17) Hampshire 113-4 (Dawson 35, Northeast 28, Adams 21). Hampshire won by six wickets
Hampshire 169-4 (Adams 100*, Northeast 50) Unicorns 145-6 (McKiernan 50*, Topley 2-8. Hampshire won by 24 runs.
