Leicestershire lose bowler Griffith

Griffith has returned home to rest his ankle © Getty Images

Adam Griffith, Leicestershire's Australian fast bowler, has been forced to return home due to a persistent ankle injury, the club has confirmed.

Griffith, 28, was signed in June when Mohammad Asif joined up with the Pakistan squad for the tour to England.

The injury to his left ankle ruled him out of the Twenty20 final earlier this month and last Thursday a specialist administered a cortisone injection and advised him to rest for two weeks.

"It has compromised his whole delivery because he hasn't been able to slam that foot down in the way he would have liked," Leicestershire coach Tim Boon told the club's website.

He is now heading home in attempt to gain full fitness with Tasmania before the Australian season starts in October.

It means that Leicestershire will finish the summer without an overseas player after the Pakistani leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad was ruled out of the rest of the season with a finger injury.

It will, however, create opportunities for some of the county's younger bowlers.

"We have an opportunity to take a good look at some of the younger seam bowlers over the remaining few weeks of the season, which is not such a bad thing", explained Boon.

"With Stuart Broad away on England duty, there is an excellent chance for the likes of Ryan Cummins and Chris Liddle."

"It is disappointing in some respects that Adam's spell with us has ended this way, but a decision has been reached that he should return home and both parties are happy with that"