worcestershire ccc paceman charlie morris is making good progress after returning early from his spell playing grade cricket for tuggeranong valley in australia because of a side strain.
morris picked the injury shortly after returning to action following the festive season and it was decided he should return to New Road after a scan down under revealed a grade two strain.
but the 25-year-old will start undertaking bowling drills next week with a view to playing a full part during the pre-season tour of abu dhabi which gets underway on march 8.
morris had played a full part in tuggeranong valley reaching the semi-finals of the mcdonald’s act premier cricket first grade one-day competition.
worcestershire ccc head of science and medicine, ben davies, said: “charlie picked up a bit of a side strain while he was bowling in canberra. he got himself a scan out there and saw a physio.
“when we found out it was a grade two strain, and we thought it was going to be a slightly longer rehab, we thought it was more sensible for him to come back and get himself fit as quick as possible in order to build his bowling work-load for abu dhabi and take a full part with the squad out there.
“a grade two side strain which are pretty common for fast bowlers. but since he’s come back he’s settled really quickly with his rehab so he will be starting bowling drills again next week again.
“everything has gone pretty smoothly so far. for a grade two, you are looking at six to eight weeks without bowling, including your back to bowling drills. i reckon in abu dhabi he will be off his full run again.”
opening batsman ollie westbury has recovered fully from the broken thumb which cut short his winter in australia playing grade cricket for scarborough.
davies said: “ollie is fine, doing everything, he was really whacking the ball in the nets this week.”