CALLUM Ferguson will skipper Worcestershire Rapids in the Vitality Blast against Yorkshire Vikings at the Emerald Headingley Stadium on Friday (6.30pm) after Brett D’Oliveira was ruled out through injury.

The Australian batsman will take charge with D’Oliveira suffering a small fracture to his thumb in Wednesday's win over Derbyshire Falcons at Blackfinch New Road while fielding off his own bowling.

Ferguson skippered Rapids in last summer’s Royal London One-Day Cup semi-final against Kent.

County first-team coach Alex Gidman said: “Dolly unfortunately is injured, a small fracture of his thumb, and will be out for a little while.

"It’s a real shame for him. He has been leading the team well and contributed well.”

All-rounder George Rhodes has been recalled by Rapids who are second in the North Group with seven points from five games.

Gidman continued: “It is important if you can to get off to a good start in this competition. Three wins and one wash-out was a good start.

“We’ve played some really good teams already and at the beginning of the competition everyone is firing and desperate to do well.

“It’s the toughest time, if that makes sense, to win in one way. We’ve got another tough game at Yorkshire who are very good on their own patch.

“It was really important to get a couple of wins under our belt, particularly at home where we enjoy playing.

“They are generally good wickets at Headingley and our batsmen play really well on good wickets but they’ve got a very strong batting line-up and bowling outfit as well.

“They are a very good team so we will have to be at our best as usual.”

Rapids from: Guptill, Wessels, Ferguson, Parnell, Whiteley, Cox, Barnard, Mitchell, Pennington, Brown, Fell, Morris, Rhodes.