WHEN you are up against the most potent batting line-up in county cricket on the flattest wicket in the country, the last thing you need is your leading wicket taker to be ruled out by injury.

However, that is exactly the challenge Essex face after Danish Kaneria was ruled out of today's LV County Championship division two match against Somerset in Taunton with a stiff back.

The Pakistan leg-spinner - the leading championship wicket-taker with 50 - will be sorely missed by Essex, who will also be without Tim Phillips, who has a shoulder injury, and Alastair Cook, who is away with England.

The player shortage has led to a call-up for young batsman Tom Westley, 18, who has shown fine form in the second eleven.

First-team coach Paul Grayson explained the decision to rest Kaneria and said: "Danish Kaneria has had a heavy workload recently so we have to be mindful of that with a tough schedule ahead over the remainder of the season.

"Hopefully with him being rested at Taunton there will be the possibility of him joining up with us at Cheltenham College (for the subsequent championship match against Gloucestershire).

"Tim Phillips has seen a surgeon about his shoulder and needs another scan next week as the previous one was inconclusive.

"Depending on the pitch we could give Tom Westley his debut.

"Tom has progressed nicely so this could be a good opportunity for us to get another of our young lads in."