Notts seek replacement for injured Shreck

Nottinghamshire are on the lookout for a new fast bowler as cover for the injured Charlie Shreck. The 25-year-old Shreck, who topped the Notts averages last year with 29 wickets at 27 apiece, has been ruled out of the first half of the season after undergoing back surgery for a stress fracture in his spine. He is not expected to be able to play until late July at the earliest. Now the search is on for a new seamer to work alongside the pace bowlers Andrew Harris, Greg Smith and Ryan Sidebottom.

"We are looking at the possibility of bringing in a new player," said Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, "but nothing concrete has been sorted out yet. It's a big disappointment to lose Charlie at this stage as he would have had a major role to play in the team but we are confident he will recover for the end of the summer and be ready to play a full part in the 2006 season."

"I'm bitterly disappointed to be missing so much of the season," Shreck added, "but at the same time I'm glad the injury has been fixed. It will be incredibly frustrating to watch the boys playing from the dressing room but I've set myself a target of being back in action by August."