Edwards facing layoff after ankle break

LONDON (CMC):

Former West Indies and Barbados speedster Fidel Edwards is facing a long spell on the sidelines after fracturing his ankle during warm-ups on the final day of Hampshire's County Championship game against Yorkshire on Wednesday.

Hampshire confirmed the injury on Thursday and said Edwards would undergo tests to determine the extent of the damage and his recuperation period.

"Hampshire Cricket can confirm that fast-bowler Fidel Edwards has suffered a fractured right ankle, which was sustained during the warm-up on day four of the Specsavers County Championship match against Yorkshire at Headingley," the club said in a statement.

"Fidel will see a specialist (Thursday), which will help determine the predicted length of time that he will be out of action for."

The loss of the 34-year-old Edwards will be huge for Hampshire, who are already stricken with an injury crisis that has claimed Reece Topley, Ryan Stevenson, Gareth Berg, Liam Dawson, Chris Wood, and Sean Ervine.

Edwards has played both Hampshire games this season, taking three wickets against Warwickshire in the opening game earlier this month. He went wicketless from 23 overs in the first innings against Yorkshire but was ruled out of action in the second innings.

FREAK ACCIDENT

Hampshire's coach, Dale Benkenstein, said the injury came about in a freak accident during a game of football before the start of play.

"We were only 45 seconds away from the end of the game when Fidel went to kick the ball," the South African said.

"I was just about to get the mitts on for fielding practice when his foot got stuck in the turf and all his weight went over on it. There was no one near him. It was a really freakish fall, and there was a loud crack.

"It was clear it was bad when he started calling out for T (Hampshire physio Thihan Chandromohan)."

Edwards was Hampshire's leading wicket-taker last season, with 45 wickets from just eight games, and was rewarded with a contract for the new season.

He has played 55 Tests for West Indies, taking 165 wickets.