Kieswetter ruled out for six weeks

Craig Kieswetter has been ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a broken thumb in Somerset's County Championship match against Warwickshire.

Kieswetter sustained the injury to his right thumb from the last ball before lunch on the final day, when he was stood up to Peter Trego, and after interval handed the wicketkeeping gloves to Jos Buttler for the remainder of the match.

Dave Nosworthy, Somerset's director of cricket said: "Obviously this is very disappointing for us at this stage of the campaign and it is also very disappointing for Craig.

"This was a freak accident and with him in such good form and in a good frame of mind with the bat and gloves, it has come at a bad time. However, he goes about things in a very professional way and with a good rehabilitation programme already planned we will have him back as soon as possible."

Somerset are fortunate to have another international wicketkeeper in Buttler ready as a straight replacement behind the stumps and he will be available until England's one-day series against New Zealand which precedes the Champions Trophy in June.

Buttler and Kieswetter were set for split duties in the early weeks of the season after Buttler's elevation to the England limited-overs role at the expense of his county team-mate. Now, Buttler will have an extended run with the gloves in order to work on his keeping ahead of England's next one-day series.