Image Credit- Victoria Cricket
Three weeks before
the County Championship got underway, Somerset received bad news: Australia
all-rounder Will Sutherland would not be able to play for the team due to
injury.
Sutherland, 24, suffered a back problem during the last round of Sheffield
Shield matches while captaining Victoria. Due to medical advice, he will not be
playing with Somerset. He had been scheduled to participate in the Vitality
Blast group stage after the first round of Championship games in April and May.
“Everyone involved really feels for Will as he was relishing the challenge
of playing for Somerset this summer, and we wish him a swift recovery,”
Somerset director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said. “Obviously, it’s a blow to
lose a quality player this close to the start of the season, and our focus now
is to secure a suitable replacement.”
Sutherland, who made
his Australia ODI debut last month, had committed to play for Essex the
previous summer but was forced to withdraw due to a stress fracture in his
back.
Matt Renshaw has signed to play for Taunton for a third time, meaning he will
be available for Somerset to use at the beginning of the season. Starting on
April 5, the Australia opening will be accessible for the first seven matches
of the Championship.