Warne handed fitness boost

Shane Warne is on course to play again this season © Getty Images

Shane Warne could still have a role to play in the County Championship run-in after receiving an injury boost. He feared his season was over after scans last week indicated he had a broken rib, but following a fresh check on the injury, it has been downgraded to a muscle tear.

While Hampshire were enduring a tough day on the field on Saturday - following on against Surrey - they had a significantly better one off it. Club physio Andrew Nealon reported that the initial diagnosis, and prognosis, had been revised for Warne.

"Shane had a repeat MRI scan, which indicates a muscle tear adjacent to his rib - which appears to be more consistent with what happened," he told the Southern Daily Echo. "He is making good progress and will definitely be back playing this season.

"He has an outside chance of playing against Worcestershire at Kidderminster next week - and is very confident of appearing against Kent [in the penultimate round of matches on September 11]."