Sales faces a season out of action

Northamptonshire batsman David Sales is likely to miss the whole of the coming season after picking up a knee injury at the start of England's 'A' tour to the West Indies.

The 23-year-old damaged his left knee while playing beach volleyball in Grenada on New Year's Day, and was sent home without facing a ball in anger.

Sales immediately underwent scans and a specialist has diagnosed ruptured cruciate ligaments and damaged medial ligaments, requiring at least two operations.

Northants Chief Executive Steve Coverdale said: "David will have surgery at once to clean out the knee, and then between six weeks and two months down the line he will undergo the main operation to repair the damage."

"That's likely to mean another four months or so of inactivity, and at the moment it looks as though he'll only be starting rehabilitation towards the back end of our season.

"It's obviously a blow for the club but obviously we're more sorry for David. It's very sad indeed for him, but all I can say is that is his attitude so far has been excellent."

Sales, who struggled for consistency in Championship cricket last summer, was looking to re-establish his Test credentials with a successful 'A' tour this winter.

His injury is likely to strengthen Northamptonshire's resolve to sign an overseas batsman for the coming season as a replacement for their former captain Matthew Hayden, who is expected to be involved in Australia's bid to retain the Ashes in England.