Essex were dealt a massive blow to their double promotion hopes today with the news that captain Ronnie Irani could be out for the rest of the season.
And there could be even worse news concerning the future of strike bowler Ashley Cowan who is battling to save his career.
Irani's revealation came just hours before Essex are due to launch their annual Colchester cricket festival with a four-day Division Two Championship match against Durham at Castle Park tomorrow.
Laid low - Essex skipper Ronnie Irani
"I'm out for the season," the crestfallen skipper said today.
"I've been suffering with a knee injury for some time now so I went into hospital yesterday for what they call a clean-out operation."
The operation on his right knee was carried out by James Dandy, one of the country's leading sports injury surgeons, at a private Cambridge clinic.
Irani said: "The injury has been getting worse during the last few weeks so I had to do something about it."
Cowan has been absent for several games because of a troublesome knee injury and Irani said: "Ashley's problems are far worse than mine and it will take a miracle for him to play at Colchester.
"He's fighting to save his career and is taking as much medical advice as he can to do it."
Essex are also due to play Northamptonshire at Colchester in the Norwich Union League on Sunday and against Gloucestershire Gladiators in a floodlit clash next Tuesday
More on Essex County Cricket Club
Published Tuesday August 20, 2002
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