Hastings hit by Poysden injury

Josh Poysden is set to miss the majority of the Sussex Premier League season after breaking and dislocating a finger playing for Cambridge University on Wednesday, last week.

Priory vice-captain John Morgan said: “It dismantled a finger on his left hand. He had to have an emergency operation on Friday night and basically he’s out for 3-4 months. It’s a big blow for him and a big blow for us.”

Poysden showed his Priory team-mates the damage during the game at Roffey last weekend and it’s understood that had the injury been to his right hand, he might never have been able to bowl again.

He wrote on social network site Twitter: “The finger was in pieces!! Two screws, two wires and a frame put in. Facing a lengthy lay off. Got told if it was right hand would never bowl again!”

The 21-year-old leg break bowler has recently played two games for Unicorns in the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition against Gloucestershire and Somerset, coming up against the likes of former England opening batsman Marcus Trescothick. He also toured Sri Lanka last month with the British Combined Universities squad.

Poysden played a starring role in the Priory side which finished third in the Sussex Premier League last summer. He was their leading league wicket-taker with 33 victims at an average of just 12.85, dismissing three former Test players for ducks en route to figures of 8-65 in the derby win over Eastbourne.

His importance to Priory would doubtless have been even greater this year following the loss of several key players over the winter, notably Matt Machan and Kirk Wernars.

With both of their league fixtures so far having been abandoned due to rain, Priory will be hoping it’s third time lucky when they entertain Worthing at Horntye Park today (Saturday). Play is due to start at 12.30pm.