Copeland's gruesome damaged digit

NSW Blues seamer Trent Copeland has tweeted a gruesome before-and-after picture of the broken finger he suffered while fielding in the Sheffield Shield.

Copeland sustained the compound fracture to his right index finger in the field during the Blues Round Four Shield draw with Tasmania in Hobart late last month.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT BELOW

The nasty break required surgery, ruling Copeland out of the Blues final Shield match before the BBL break, with NSW coach Trent Johnston hopeful his star strike bowler will be fit for when the four-day cricket returns next year.

“I certainly hope that he will be back after the Big Bash,” said Johnston.

“From all accounts the surgery went well, it isn’t broken, it is a dislocation with the bone coming through the skin.

“It is his right index finger, so he will have to get used to bowling with that again.

“Hopefully he will be back ready to go sooner rather than later.”

It’s not the first time this season Copeland has suffered an injury to his bowling hand.

The 30-year-old dropped Queensland captain Usman Khawaja at first slip in the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup final this year, jarring his thumb as he muffed the catch.

Copeland’s sore thumb then copped another knock when a handshake with teammate Nathan Lyon went wrong, leaving the paceman in agony.

Copeland has taken 14 wickets in four matches for the Blues this year, including 6-54 in the match against the Tigers at Blundstone Arena. 

The lanky right-armer, who played three Tests for Australia in 2011, has a phenomenal first-class record, with 251 wickets in 66 matches at a superb average of 25.26. 

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