Cricket: Injury puts O'Connor out for rest of season

Luckless Otago and New Zealand swing bowler Shayne O'Connor is to have an operation on his injured knee and will miss the rest of the season.

He suffered a recurrence of the injury to a tendon during the first test against Australia in Brisbane in November.

He has worked at rehabilitating the knee since, but a specialist has advised that surgery is the best option.

"Shayne's going to have an operation and he'll be out for the season, I imagine," Otago coach Glenn Turner said yesterday.

The injury is a blow to NZ and Otago because O'Connor is a genuine attacking weapon at test and one-day level.

He has taken 53 wickets (average 31.26) in 19 tests and 46 wickets (average 30.36) in 38 one-day internationals.

Otago allrounder Warren McSkimming is also out for the foreseeable future after suffering a back injury against Auckland in Alexandra a week ago.

"He is definitely out for a fortnight and it could be longer," Turner said.

Otago's injury woes do not end there, with captain Lee Germon in doubt for Wednesday's State Shield game against Canterbury in Oamaru because of a continuation of a hip problem.

Otago A batsman Simon Beare was called to Alexandra before Saturday's shield game against Northern Districts after Germon continued to struggle with the injury.

"Lee was struggling at practice before the match and we were a bit uncertain about his availability," Turner said.

Craig Cumming would take over the captaincy against Canterbury if Germon was unavailable and Beare would come into the 12.

- NZPA