Mixed news for Steelbacks
O'Brien delays surgery, Theron's arrival delayed
Last Updated: June 2, 2010 10:46pm
Cortisone injection: O'Brien
Ireland and Northamptonshire wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien has postponed surgery on a fractured finger to play in his country's one-day international against Australia in Dublin on June 17.
O'Brien, 28, has been troubled by pain and swelling in his left index finger and x-rays this week showed he has sustained a break.
There were fears he would require an operation to fix the damage, but after consultation with doctors at Northants, O'Neill has had a cortisone injection.
O'Brien will, therefore, also be available for Northamptonshire's Friends Provident t20 campaign, which begins against Warwickshire on June 3, although he is set to sit out the upcoming LV County Championship matches.
"X-rays showed a fracture of my left index finger, but I've had a cortisone injection in the joint and hopefully that will take away some of the swelling and pain," O'Brien said.
"I'll play in the T20 games coming up and the ODI against Australia.
"I'll not play any part in the four-day games coming up, and we'll reassess the damage after the Twenty20 campaign finishes."
O'Brien looks likely to have the operation in the winter to ensure his fitness ahead of the 2011 World Cup on the sub-continent.
"It's likely that an operation will be required at some stage, but it's trying to decide just when to do it," he added.
"I'll have to decide with Northants and Ireland just when would be the best time to do it."
Red tape
Northants, however, have received bad news concerning overseas signing Juan Theron.
The South African paceman will miss the opening five games of the FP t20 after failing to obtain a work permit.
He must wait for the relevant paperwork to come through but is expected to arrive before the end of June.
It means the Steelbacks will be without two overseas players for the start of the tournament as Elton Chigumbura is not due to arrive until June 14, following Zimbabwe's Tri-Nations series against Sri Lanka and India.
"We are obviously disappointed to learn that 'Rusty' (Theron) will not be joining up with the team to help kick-start our FP t20 campaign," said the county's chief executive Mark Tagg.
Niall O'Brien
Juan Theron
