Worcestershire CCC paceman Dillon Pennington has suffered a fracture to his finger but is expected to be recovered for the pre-season trip to Abu Dhabi in mid March.
Pennington sustained the setback to his bowling hand after being struck on the glove by a delivery while batting during practice at Malvern College.
The England Under-19 player should be available for when the County fly out to the UAE on March 18.
Second Eleven physio Ali McKenzie, who has taken over Ben Davies’ duties while on England Lions duty, said: “Dillon took a ball on his glove during practice and initial x-rays indicate it is an undisplaced fracture of his finger.
“He is getting viewed by one of the top hand specialist in the country this week, and it should hopefully be a straightforward management plan from there.
“How long will it take to heal? Initial estimation is around six weeks to protect the injury for healing and providing everything goes well.
“These small setbacks happen but he will be well prepared come pre-season.”
Fellow paceman Mitchell Stanley, who recently signed his first professional contract, is likely to return to bowling in March after a back problem.
McKenzie said: “We are treating it as a stress reaction of the back but we are on track to get back bowling in March.
“Our goal is to get him as strong and prepared as possible so he can meet the demands of going from Academy to first class cricket.
“He is working heavily with Dewsy (Ross Dewar) just to make sure he is as strong and fit as possible. He is being looked after and is in the best hands.”
A third pace bowler in Pat Brown has returned to working with Worcestershire after sustaining a lower back stress fracture which has ruled him out of England’s white ball leg of the tour of South Africa.
McKenzie said: “At the moment it is a case of protecting and optimising healing and then slowly building him back up.
“He is doing some low level exercise and letting things heal and from there will build up the strength and fitness.”
