Harrison blow leaves Glamorgan short

David Harrison is out for the season and will have back surgery in the next two weeks © Getty Images

David Harrison, the Glamorgan seamer, has been ruled out for the whole season with a bulging disc in his back leaving the county desperately short of pace bowling options. They are now considering signing an overseas player as cover with Simon Jones still not ready for a return to four-day cricket.

Harrison will undergo surgery on his lower back in the next two weeks and Adrian Shaw, Glamorgan's coach, told Wales on Sunday: "It's a huge disappointment because Dave was going to spearhead the attack and we were looking for him to get 50 or 60 wickets."

Jones isn't considered quite up to four-day fitness yet and is expected to play for Glamorgan's second eleven, against Lancashire, at Swansea. His return from the knee injuries which have plagued him for the past 18 months has been carefully managed with two Friends Provident outings in the early stages of the season.

If Glamorgan do opt for a second overseas player, it will signal a complete turnaround after they were facing a season without any due to financial constraints. However, contributions from supporters allowed them to recruit Jimmy Maher, the Queensland opener, who is due to arrive shortly. Matthew Elliott is currently acting as short-term cover before Maher joins.