Nair to miss JLT One-Day Cup

NSW Blues have suffered a blow less than a month out from the start of the summer with exciting young allrounder Arjun Nair ruled out of the JLT One-Day Cup through injury.

Nair has been diagnosed with a "lumbar stress injury" and is now aiming to be fit for the KFC Big Bash League as part of Shane Watson’s Sydney Thunder outfit.

NSW’s first JLT Cup match is against Western Australia at the WACA Ground on September 18, while the Thunder’s BBL season starts on December 21.

"It’s disappointing but a good learning curve for me going forward,” Nair said.

"After a rest I’ll begin rehab with an eye to batting next month in Premier Cricket and being fully fit to bowl for the Big Bash in December."

Nair made his first-class debut for the Blues as a 17-year-old in February 2016 and played all 10 matches for the Thunder last summer.

The youngster bowls in similar fashion to West Indies mystery spinner Sunil Narine, but after a BBL match against the Hobart Hurricanes on December 30 last year, his action was reported as suspect and he was banned from bowling for three months.

The now 20-year-old underwent biomechanical testing in May and both his stock off-spinner and carrom ball were cleared.

Nair is now allowed to bowl in all competitions but is expected to return from injury as a specialist batsman first before rolling the arm over.

"Arjun is a fine young cricketer who has already played for the Blues and the Sydney Thunder," NSW coach Phil Jaques said.

"It’s a shame he’s had this setback. We’ll miss him from the Blues set-up while he’s injured.

"He has a bright future and we look forward to welcoming him back later in the season."