Bichel out for the season

Andy Bichel will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his troublesome right shoulder, but he intends to play on for Queensland next summer. Bichel hurt his shoulder throwing a ball while fielding during a club match at the start of the season and he has been limited to two Pura Cup matches with little impact.

"It got to a point that while I could bowl, I couldn't bowl to the level I was happy with and I was going to be hampered with my throwing for the rest of the season, and probably my career, if I decided to push on without the operation," Bichel said. "I realise that some people might wonder whether this will be it for me but I'm firmly committed to playing again for Queensland."

Bichel, 37, had surgery in Brisbane on Friday under the same orthopaedic surgeon who performed similar operations on Adam Dale and Michael Kasprowicz. He said: "Kasper always used to joke that his shoulder operation was the equivalent of a 50,000-delivery service, so I guess this is my 100,000-ball service."

Although his output has been hampered this summer Bichel was the second leading wicket-taker in the Pura Cup last season with 45 at 24.66. He also had a productive county campaign with Essex this year, taking 41 wickets at 20.53 and scoring two centuries.