Casson out with fractured finger

A previously undiagnosed fractured finger will keep Retravision Warrior Beau Casson out of the Western Australian team until March.

With WA's last Pura Cup match starting on March 4th in Adelaide and the ING Cup Final on February 29th it is likely that Casson will not play for WA again in 2003-04.

Casson inured the ring finger on his left hand when diving for a catch during WA's ING Cup victory over NSW at the WACA Ground on January 21.

Casson split the webbing in his hand and required two stitches and it was believed he suffered minor ligament damage.

Casson bowls left-arm wrist-spin and uses his ring finger to spin the ball. Warriors Physiotherapist David Edgar became suspicious when two weeks after the injury Casson had not recovered sufficiently.

"We X-rayed Beau's hand straight after the incident and the fracture did not show up so when he was still in pain after two weeks we ordered an MRI scan," he said.

"The MRI scan showed up a tiny fracture in the ring finger of Beau's left hand. This is actually better news for Beau then if he had damaged the ligament.

"Bones heal back to their original strength while ligaments can remain lax, that is to say that they can lose some of thief elasticity."

In four Pura Cup matches this season Casson took 17 wickets at an average 34.11 with best figures of 5-109 against Queensland at the WACA Ground.

In further news Michael Clark's back surgery was a success according to Edgar. Clark had a screw inserted in vertebrae C 4-5 on Monday to fix a stress fracture.

"The Doctor that performed the operation said it was one of the more difficult surgeries he had been involved in," he said.

"Due to the angle of the fracture, keyhole surgery could not be performed and Michael required an open operation. But, aside from that everything went perfectly and Michael can begin limited training again in six weeks.

"These injuries rarely re-occur once a screw had been put in and Michael will be fully recovered in time for the 2004-05 pre-season."

Meanwhile the WACA Selectors have named an unchanged squad for the Pura Cup match against the Queensland Bulls at the Gabba that starts this Sunday.

After a few sleepless nights Warriors Vice-Captain Michael Hussey could travel with the team after his wife Amy gave birth to Jasmin Sarah on Monday night. Hussey would have stayed at home if his wife had not given birth.

Radio Fremantle 107.9FM will provide ball-by-ball coverage for the entire match.