Niall O'Brien out for six weeks

	Niall O'Brien aggravated the ankle injury during the World Twenty20 game against Sri Lanka © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Niall O'Brien Series/Tournaments: ICC Intercontinental Cup Teams: Ireland

Niall O'Brien, the Ireland wicketkeeper, has been ruled out for upto six weeks after aggravating an ankle injury he picked up during the World Twenty20 earlier this month. O'Brien, who missed a Twenty20 game for Northamptonshire on Tuesday, had a second MRI scan which revealed a grade 2 ligament tear in his right ankle.

"It's a blow to miss upcoming important games, particularly when I felt in such good form with the bat," O'Brien told Cricket Europe. "It could be anything for up to six weeks, but I'm a quick healer usually, and I'd be optimistic that I'd be back in four."

O'Brien will miss Ireland's Intercontinental Cup game against Kenya at Eglinton starting July 3 and two ODIs against the same side on July 8 and 10. He aims to be fit for the ODI against England on August 27 in Stormont.

His injury is a blow to Ireland as O'Brien was their in-form batsman with 81 runs at a strike-rate of 106.57 in four matches in the World Twenty20.