Western Australia fast bowler Lance Morris has suffered another injury setback after sustaining a cut to his left hand following his first professional appearance since undergoing lumbar surgery.
WA Cricket confirmed on Monday that Morris had injured his non-bowling hand and would consult a hand specialist to assess the extent of the damage. However, the circumstances surrounding the injury have not yet been disclosed. The incident reportedly occurred hours after the completion of Saturday's match against England.
The latest setback comes at an unfortunate time for Morris, who had recently made a promising return to professional cricket after spending 18 months on the sidelines following back surgery.
Making his first appearance for Western Australia since the operation, the 28-year-old delivered an impressive performance against England's ODI side, claiming three wickets for 29 runs in his 10 overs, including two maiden overs. He dismissed Tom Banton and Joe Root, showcasing his pace and ability to generate extra bounce.
Morris' return had already been delayed after he suffered a side strain late in the pre-season. Following his encouraging performance against England, he was expected to feature again when Western Australia take on Victoria in the One-Day Cup next Monday.
However, his availability for the upcoming fixture is now uncertain, with his recovery timeline likely to depend on the assessment of the hand specialist.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey had expressed his excitement about Morris' comeback before news of the latest injury emerged.
"Just excited and happy to see Lance back playing," Bailey said on Monday.
Bailey acknowledged that Morris had endured a frustrating period with injuries and praised the fast bowler's ability to quickly regain his rhythm and bowling intensity.
"Particularly that latest setback he had just prior to the start of the season, it just felt like just give the man a little bit of luck. Great to see him back on Saturday against England, and pretty impressed by how quickly he seemed to get back into his work. He bowled good pace and good areas, and got a nice performance outcome," Bailey added.
Morris' latest injury will be a concern for Western Australia and Australian selectors, who will be hoping the fast bowler can overcome this setback and continue his comeback without further interruptions.
