Mark Robinson shares injury update

Sam Hain and Craig Miles are set to spend time on the sidelines as First Team Coach Mark Robinson shuffles his pack ahead of three Vitality Blast games in four days.

But Robinson said there was positive news in the way Jacob Bethell is managing the stress fracture to his back and believes he could play a big part in the Blast run-in.

Hain – the Bears leading Blast batter with 417 runs in eight matches – has a hamstring strain that’s likely to keep him out for between two to four weeks.

Miles injured his hamstring while on loan at Durham and is set to miss at least six weeks.

However, Robinson said he expects seamer Chris Woakes to be released from the England camp to play in the away games at Durham (20 June) and Yorkshire Vikings (22 June), plus the home derby versus Worcestershire Rapids on Friday 23 June.

He said: “Sam’s been the golden boy, in incredible nick, in all competitions so we’ll miss him. But I think Davo (Al Davies) said at the start of the season that individuals win games but squads win tournaments. 

“That’s what we’re going to have to do, to go far in this competition we’re going to have to share the load and that’s what happened at Worcester. Sam has been carrying us with a bat a bit and now’s the time for someone else to step up do some special things.

“We rate Beth (Jacob Bethell) highly and he’s back playing now with the bat. He showed his talent when he got the opportunity at Worcester on Friday (32 from 13 balls) and his partnership with Mousley brought something like 70 runs off five overs and proved decisive.

“Milo is going to be out for longer which is a shame as he was doing well, and one of our best fielders. 

“He’ll be missed but it’ll be an opportunity for Henry to perform more consistently plus we’ve got Woaksey back next week as well, for the three Blast games which is great news. We’ll keep riding the punches and keep going in the right direction.”

Robinson also gave an injury update on Liam Norwell and said the Bears’ quick had suffered a blow in his hopes of making a swift comeback from his back complaint.

He added: “Liam’s had a setback and he’s still probably some weeks away. We’ve got to keep being patient with him because he’s got a bulging disc in his back. These things aren’t straightforward but we’re hoping at some stage he’ll return this season when we need him the most.”