Fractured arm rules Lara out of T&T's season

	A "disappointed" Brian Lara will take no further part in T&T's season © Getty Images

A fractured arm has ruled Brian Lara out of the rest of Trinidad and Tobago's season. Lara was struck by a rising delivery from fast bowler Lionel Baker on the opening day of T&T's third-round Carib Beer Series match on Friday against the Leeward Islands and x-rays have shown a bone fracture in his left arm just above the wrist.

Lara, who retired from international cricket last April, had his arm placed in a cast and sling.

Omar Khan, T&T's manager, told CMC Sport that Lara would be out of action for approximately eight weeks. "The cast will be on for six weeks before it is removed and then he has to do physiotherapy for a further two weeks, so Brian will be out for about two months in terms of his participation in the Carib Beer Series," he said.

After a century and an unbeaten half-century in a winning effort against Guyana two weeks ago, Lara played through T&T's further games despite a lingering shoulder injury. He was hit on the arm a few balls after driving Baker for four.

"He [Lara] is very disappointed, in fact tears came to his eyes when the doctor came back and revealed that the x-rays revealed the broken bone. It was really disappointing for him," Khan said. "He really did look forward to competing in this game especially the kind of treatment he has been getting in St Maarten, there has been a tremendous feeling for T&T team and for Brian Lara in particular to be in St Maarten here to play cricket. The people of St Maarten had given him a rousing welcome and he looked forward to participating."

Lara made himself available for T&T this season but said he would step down once the international players returned from their tour of South Africa, to give younger players a chance to develop. With T&T having taken a lead in the Carib Beer Series points table thanks to Lara's early success with the bat, Khan said the 38-year-old's absence was a major loss.

"It's a big blow for the team because as you know he has been the mainstay of our batting and he has really come back and led from the front. But that's how things go, there is nothing to do about it except to be positive [and] the other guys will now get an opportunity to showcase their talent."