Ravi Bopara Ruled Out of T20 Blast

Ravi Bopara has been sidelined from the T20 Blast's knockout stages after suffering a finger injury while playing in a T10 league in the Cayman Islands.

Bopara, who ranks as the fifth-highest run-scorer in Blast history and led Essex to victory in the 2019 competition, signed with Sussex the following season before joining Northamptonshire on a T20-only contract earlier this year.

During the group stages, Bopara played a pivotal role for Northamptonshire, emerging as their second-highest run-scorer and third-highest wicket-taker. His contributions helped Northants secure second place in the North Group and reach the knockout stages for only the second time since their 2016 title, earning them a home quarter-final.

Northamptonshire is set to face Somerset at Wantage Road on September 5, but Bopara will be absent from the lineup. He recently underwent surgery for a finger injury sustained while playing for Miami Lions in the inaugural Max60 tournament in the Cayman Islands, a private T10 league not affiliated with Cricket West Indies.

According to a statement from Northants, "Bopara ruptured a tendon in a finger on his right hand while attempting a caught-and-bowled. He has had surgery but will require three weeks of recovery."

Additionally, 19-year-old seamer Raphy Weatherall, who claimed 11 wickets during the group stages of the Blast, has also been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a lower-back stress fracture, a common injury among young fast bowlers.

Northamptonshire will be without Sikandar Raza for the quarter-finals and is awaiting confirmation from Cricket South Africa regarding the availability of Matthew Breetzke. However, Australian all-rounder Ashton Agar has been cleared to return.