KENT’S England all-rounder Mark Ealham looks set to miss the start of the forthcoming season after breaking his hand in a training accident.

The 32-year-old winner of 64 England one-day international caps is set to be sidelined for up to a month after fracturing his right hand while facing club-mate Martin McCague in a practice session on Friday at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury.

Ealham, who has just signed a new two-year contract with the county, has spent the last three weeks training at the ground after missing the club’s tour to Port Elizabeth following the birth of his first son George.

“Because we’d got warm-up matches planned for Saturday we decided to do some centre practice with new balls, but Macca got one to lift and hit me on the right glove,” explained Ealham. “I’ve had broken fingers before and knew instantly that it was fairly serious.”

Ealham went for x-rays at the Chaucer Hospital in Canterbury, which revealed a depressed fracture to the knuckle of his third finger. “I went to see the club’s bone specialist Philip Housden who told me I’d be out for a month or so, so I’ve set my target to comeback for the Benson & Hedges ties that start at the end of April,” added Ealham.

“I had a real expectation of wanting to perform again this season and was really looking forward to the start of the season, so this is a major blow. But I can continue with my fitness work in the meantime and will hopefully heal quickly.”