Yorkshire's T20 dejection compounded as David Willey is sidelined with hand injury

YORKSHIRE and England all-rounder David Willey could miss the rest of the season after suffering a hand injury that has ruled him out of the one-day series against Pakistan.
Yorkshire Vikings David Willey reacts after picking up a knock after an attempt to catch off his bowling during the NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston, Birmingham. (Picture: Rui Vieira/PA Wire)Yorkshire Vikings David Willey reacts after picking up a knock after an attempt to catch off his bowling during the NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston, Birmingham. (Picture: Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Yorkshire Vikings David Willey reacts after picking up a knock after an attempt to catch off his bowling during the NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston, Birmingham. (Picture: Rui Vieira/PA Wire)

Willey was struck by a hard-hit return drive from Durham batsman Mark Stoneman while bowling for Yorkshire in their semi-final defeat at NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday.

An X-ray yesterday on his left hand, his bowling hand, “has not excluded a significant injury”, according to an England and Wales Cricket Board statement, and Willey will have a further scan today and be assessed by a consultant.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the season ending four weeks on Friday, it is possible that Willey’s summer is over and that he will be unable to further assist Yorkshire in their quest for a County Championship and Royal London Cup double.

Willey, 26, was withdrawn from the England squad yesterday for the five-match ODI series that starts in Southampton on Wednesday, and which comes to Headingley for its penultimate encounter on September 1.

He has been replaced by Jake Ball, the Notts’ seamer, who will thus be unavailable for the County Championship game against Yorkshire that starts at Scarborough tomorrow.

Willey, who fought through the pain barrier at Finals Day to complete his four overs and later open the batting, was clearly in significant discomfort amid suggestions that he might have sustained serious damage.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He has become an important figure in England’s white-ball teams, having made 18 one-day international and 11 T20 international appearances since May last year. Willey had some good news yesterday with confirmation that he will return to the Perth Scorchers this winter in the Big Bash League.