Broken thumb blow for Red Rose T20 hero Buttler

CHRIS OSTICK LANCASHIRE have confirmed Jos Buttler broke his thumb during the NatWest T20 Blast clash with Worcestershire Rapids on Friday night.

The England ace went for an x-ray after suffering a nasty blow to his hand while trying to take a ball behind the stumps from Luis Reece.

It showed Buttler had what is being described as a ‘small stable fracture’ which Lancashire say will be regularly assessed.

Amazingly, he opened the batting for Lancashire after the incident and blasted the quickest ever half-century by a Lightning player in T20 cricket as he smashed 57 off 22 balls to help secure an impressive seven wicket win.

A club statement on Sunday morning said: “Lancashire and England’s Jos Buttler received a blow to his left thumb during Friday night’s NatWest T20 Blast match against Worcestershire Rapids at New Road.

“X-rays later revealed he sustained a small stable fracture which will be managed conservatively.”

Although Lancashire aren’t saying how long he will be out, broken thumbs normally take between three to six weeks to fully heal.

Although it means he is a doubt for the two crucial T20 Blast matches at Derbyshire on Wednesday and Leicestershire on Friday, along with the Specsavers County Championship game with Durham at Southport, there is a chance he could play as a batsman only.

Lancashire will continue to monitor Buttler on a day-by-day basis. Buttler is yet to play a Championship match for Lancashire this season and he hasn’t played red ball cricket since last November.

With Lancashire’s other wicketkeeper Alex Davies still recovering from a knee injury, Tom Moores - the son of former Red Rose coach Peter Moores who joined Lancashire on loan from Nottinghamshire last month - could return for the end of their T20 group campaign. And skipper Steven Croft will once again take the gloves in the Championship.