Jefferson suffers freak injury

The Essex opener Will Jefferson has been forced to pull out of a pre-season tour of South Africa, and is in doubt for the start of the season, after damaging tendons in his left wrist in a freak accident at his home.

Jefferson, 26, was trying to push open his bathroom window when his hand went through the glass, cutting his wrist and severing 70 per cent of the tendon. He underwent surgery on Saturday morning and now has full feeling and movement back in his hand.

He told the Essex website: "On Monday I saw a hand therapist who gave me some exercises to do although I am going to be in a splint for a month and the tendon will require two months to repair.

"The good news is I can still cycle and cross-train so I can keep up my core fitness regime. I should be able to start bowling again within three to four weeks but it could take six to eight weeks to resume batting so I could be struggling for the first Championship match."