Coach Ripley plays down injury concerns over County pace bowler Willey

After bowling four overs at the end of day one of the LV= Championship Division One match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, the left-arm pace bowler was unable to bowl at all on day two on Wednesday, and has again been kept out of the action in the first session today (Thursday).

Willey has been struggling with a back problem since last winter, and his bowling workload has been carefully managed throughout this summer.

It seems that Ripley wants to be better safe than sorry with his star man, and that Willey is being kept out of the attack against the Bears as a precaution.

“David has got some back symptoms similar to what he had previously,” the head coach told www.northantscricket.com

“We’re hoping it’s not as serious as that, but we don’t want to risk anything at this time of year that would set him back.”