WORCESTERSHIRE have been dealt a severe blow ahead of the start of day three of their LV= County Championship Division One match with Durham.

Not out batsman and new signing Adrian Shankar was carried from the field on a stretcher during the warm-up.

Details are still unclear as to what happened to the former Lancashire youngster, who only signed a two-year deal with the County last week, but it believed that he has injured his knee.

It appears that the 26-year-old was in the process of fielding drills when his leg gave way and Worcestershire immediately called for the stretcher to take Shankar away.

County chief executive David Leatherdale said: “Having spoken to Steve Rhodes, I’m told the players were in full fielding practice and Adrian went to pick up a ball and his knee went.

“At the moment he is in the dressing room icing his knee and we are hoping to get him in for a scan either later today or tomorrow.”

With Worcestershire looking to send Shankar for a scan it is more likely that it is ligament damage rather than a dislocation.

Full story in tomorrow's Worcester News