Image courtesy of: Yorkshireccc.com

“It is a great shame for him and I know that he is really disappointed with the news”

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow will be out of action for up to six weeks after breaking his finger while representing Yorkshire in a three-day warm-up match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Bairstow is likely to miss Yorkshire’s first four County Championship matches.

The incident occurred when Bairstow was hit on the ring finger of his left hand while trying to work a delivery from Liam Plunkett down the leg side.

After visiting a specialist in Leeds, it was confirmed that the finger was indeed broken.

“It is a devastating blow for Jonny,” Yorkshire first team coach Jason Gillespie told the club’s official website. “He has been working incredibly hard to put in some strong performances for Yorkshire during the early part of the season to enhance his England credentials. It is a great shame for him and I know that he is really disappointed with the news.

“He will be working hard on his rehab and we remain hopeful that if the fracture can heal quickly he could be back sooner. It was an innocuous injury. In these circumstances Jonny would take that ball a hundred times without any problems. Things like this can happen in professional sport.

“It is how you deal with it that matters most and I know that with his [Bairstow] positivity, he will be chomping at the bit to get back to playing for Yorkshire as soon as possible.”