Saturday 10 February 2018 20:14, UK
Ben Duckett is to have an operation on his injured left hand on Monday which could see him miss the start of the new domestic season.
The England and Northants left-hander aggravated the injury to his ring finger when he returned to his county for pre-season training last month, after an eventful winter tour in Australia.
Recovery time from the surgical procedure is put at between two to three months, but his county hope he will be back playing in time for the start of the new season.
Northants' opening first-class game is a county championship division two match against Middlesex at Lord's, starting on April 13.
Duckett's tour with the England Lions ended in controversy when he was suspended for pouring a drink over James Anderson in a Perth bar. The batsman was also fined and issued with a final written warning over his conduct as an England player although he remained with the touring party.
The ECB said at the time that Duckett had been fined the maximum allowable amount for a Lions player - thought to be about £1,500.
Duckett, 23, has played in four Tests in 2016 and three one-day internationals for England.
