WORCESTERSHIRE Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes has admitted losing all-rounder Mitchell Santner for the remainder of the county’s NatWest T20 Blast campaign is a ‘massive blow’.
The New Zealander suffered a small fracture to a finger while fielding in the opening NatWest T20 Blast match of the season against Durham Jets at New Road last Friday.
However, there has been a complication in the healing process which forced him to have surgery on Friday to tackle the problem.
The length of the recovery period means Santner, who was scheduled to play in all of the North Group matches this summer, has played his last game for the Rapids and will return to New Zealand.
Rhodes admitted his departure was a real blow and said the 24-year-old was an exciting talent in all forms of the game.
“Mitch is gutted himself. We were very optimistic he would come back from the injury but sadly he needed surgery,” he said.
“Maybe another time he would consider coming back to us and we would get some benefit out of him in another season.”
The Observer understands no decision had been made on a replacement to combat the loss of Santner as yet