Leicestershire batter Nick Kelly has been ruled out of the County Championship finale against Warwickshire after sustaining a rib injury, dealing a significant blow to their relegation avoidance efforts.
The 33-year-old was injured during Leicestershire’s recent victory over Hampshire, where he contributed a vital second-innings score of 86 to help the team secure their position in the battle against relegation.
Despite the injury, Kelly demonstrated resilience by playing in the One-Day Cup final on Sunday, where he top-scored with 103 runs, though Leicestershire were ultimately defeated by Middlesex at Trent Bridge.
The rib injury has now forced Kelly out of the campaign just as Leicestershire prepare for a must-win match against title-chasing Warwickshire at Edgbaston, a critical game in their fight to avoid the drop.
The club expressed their appreciation on social media, stating, “Thank you for everything you’ve given in a Foxes shirt, Nick.”
They continued, “In such a short space of time, you’ve written your name into Leicestershire history and become a true club legend.”
