Bears suffer blow after overseas star struck down by injury

The New Zealand Test captain and opening bat is expected to be sidelined until May after sustaining a fracture to his right-hand while batting in the nets.

Latham was already poised to miss Warwickshire’s opening County Championship match against Sussex, which begins on April 4, due to his participation in the Black Caps’ limited overs series against Pakistan.

But his absence will now be longer and likely include Championship clashes with Durham and Nottinghamshire, with the Bears hopeful the 32-year-old will be recovered in time to face Yorkshire at Headingley on May 2.

Latham, who has scored nearly 6,000 Test runs, was the most high-profile of four overseas signings at Edgbaston over the winter and due to be available for almost the entire summer.

In addition to providing experience and obvious quality with the bat, his ability to keep wicket was considered more than handy for a team which lost wicketkeeper Michael Burgess to retirement during the close season.

The unfortunate timing of his injury means 20-year-old Kai Smith is likely to take the gloves and make his first-class debut against Sussex. Another youngster, 18-year-old Hamza Shaikh, will slot into a top order which saw Will Rhodes depart for Durham at the end of last season.

Warwickshire also signed Australian all-rounder Beau Webster, Pakistan seamer Hasan Ali and Sri Lanka quick Vishwa Fernando on overseas forms but only the latter will be available for the County Championship opener.

Veteran seamer Chris Rushworth is absent with injury, though fellow seamer Oliver Hannon-Dalby is expected to be available despite suffering a fractured finger in a warm-up match earlier this week.

Spinning all-rounder Jacob Bethell will miss the start of the campaign due to his participation in the India Premier League, while England star Chris Woakes has indicated he will be available to play in the County Championship later in April.