Charlesworth set to miss opening games with a hand injury

» BATSMAN Ben Charlesworth is set to miss Gloucestershire’s first two Bob Willis Trophy matches through injury.

The England Under-19 prospect has stitches in his hand after splitting the webbing in training.

He is likely to miss the home matches against Worcestershire, starting on Saturday, and Warwickshire, beginning on August 8.

All-rounder Graeme van Buuren faces a race to be fit for the opening game after he retired hurt in the four-day friendly against Somerset.

He had reached 30 on the opening day at Taunton when he was hit on the hand by a rising delivery from England’s Craig Overton.

The South African tried to carry on but was forced to retire hurt and will be assessed ahead of this weekend’s game.

Fellow all-rounder Benny Howell is set to miss out on the red ball campaign as he continues to come back from the hamstring injury which ended his 2019 season early.

Howell has been in the nets batting during the pre-season build-up but is still rehabilitating with his bowling and is set to be saved for the T20 campaign, where he will hopefully play a key role for Gloucestershire.

Bowler Stuart Whittingham’s long wait for a Gloucestershire debut will go on as continues to rehabilitate from a long-standing lower back injury.

Whittingham has not played for the county since a superb bowling display in La Manga before the 2019 season when he took six for 43 against Glamorgan.

James Bracey will also miss the opener after being named as a reserve for England for the first Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford next week.

In the Somerset friendly, Gloucestershire lost by an innings and 24 runs.

Gareth Roderick made a century as Gloucestershire made 273 before Somerset responded with 427 for nine and then bowled Gloucestershire out for 130, Ryan Higgins unbeaten on 51.