WORCESTERSHIRE'S hopes of getting off to a flying start to the season have been dealt a blow with the news Matt Mason will not be fit for the early stages of the campaign.
The Aussie-born seamer has struggled with a shoulder injury over the winter, but was optimistic of making the County's curtain-raiser at home to Durham next Wednesday.
However, Mason needs more time to recuperate to avoid aggravating the injury and is hopeful of being able to play in just under a month.
Mason said: "I wanted to be fit for the start of the season, but our physio has told me to rest my shoulder for a little longer. It is a blow because I was really looking forward to getting stuck in. But it is better to get the injury right now rather than have problems later in the season because I came back too soon."
Mason underwent an arthroscopy to clean up his shoulder joint but has failed in his bid to be ready to line up for the opening match of the season.
His absence puts more of the wicket-taking burden on new overseas star Doug Bollinger, who is already under pressure to fill the void left by the departure of Zaheer Khan.
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