Kasprowicz struck down with abdominal strain

Michael Kasprowicz was dealt a demoralising blow in his return to cricket on Thursday when he was struck down with a lower abdominal strain in his second over against Western Australia. It was his first game for Queensland this season after back and groin injuries kept him out of action for almost a year.

But Kasprowicz, who turns 35 in a fortnight, said the new problem would not lead him to think of retirement. "It's just unbelievable really, that a new issue should come into it just nine balls into my return," he told AAP. "I was just so ready for this game, having sat out for the whole season. Everything had felt great - that's the disappointing tale out of it."

But Kasprowicz said he was pleased that the injury did not appear related to the groin strain that he suffered at Australia's boot camp in August. Although the abdominal strain will keep him out of Queensland's Pura Cup game against the Warriors starting on Sunday, Kasprowicz was hopeful of returning to first-class cricket soon.

He will likely have scans on Saturday to assess the damage. "I'm not going to leave it at nine balls," he said. "I'm really confident that we can come back." Nathan Rimmington has taken Kasprowicz's place for the Pura Cup match while Lachlan Stevens regained his place in the squad at the expense of Ryan Broad.

Shane Watson, who made 26 in Thursday's one-day game, will take another step forward in his recovery from a hamstring problem. He is likely to bowl against Western Australia at Brisbane and it will be his first trundle since re-injuring the muscle in a match just before Christmas.

Queensland Pura Cup squad Jimmy Maher (capt), Lachlan Stevens, Martin Love, Shane Watson, Clinton Perren, James Hopes, Craig Philipson, Chris Hartley (wk), Andy Bichel, Ashley Noffke, Daniel Doran, Nathan Rimmington.