Kaneria to return to Essex

Danish Kaneria will be returning to Essex for the rest of the season following an injury to Scott Brant, the Zimbabwe-born left-arm fast bowler. Kaneria, 23, who joined Essex at the start of the 2004 season, left in June when he was called up to join Pakistan's squad for the Asia Cup.

However, he has since been left out of Pakistan's squad for the Videocon one-day tournament in Holland and the ICC Champions Trophy in England in September, and is expected to make his Essex comeback in the County Championship game against Durham at Colchester next week.

Andre Adams, the bowling allrounder from New Zealand, had joined Essex as a replacement for Kaneria, but will stay on as cover for Brant, who has been troubled by an ankle injury and is returning to Australia next week.

Damien West, Essex's physio, explained Brant's injury: "Scans have shown an extra bone fragment growing in Scott's right heel," he said. "When he bowls the bone pinches on his joints, which causes a swelling. He has had injections to settle down the inflammation, which have helped a bit, but he is still very sore and it is difficult to predict if the condition can be resolved without surgery. In consultation with Queensland it has been decided that it would be in Scott's best interests to go home for further treatment and a possible operation."

Meanwhile, David East, Essex's chief executive, expressed his disappointment at Brant's continuing injury woes: "We are obviously very disappointed for Scott. This is the second occasion that his season with Essex has been cut short through injury. It is everyone's view that he should return home to have the condition carefully monitored by the Queensland medical team, particularly as surgery may be required."