GLOUCESTERSHIRE captain Michael Klinger will take a much-needed break before returning for the start of the county criket season.

The 33-year-old has recovered from a hamstring injury suffered during the Big Bash T20 competition in Australia and will take a short break between the end of the domestic season in his homeland and the start of the county cricket season, missing Gloucestershire’s warm-up fixtures before returning to lead them for the opening game against Hampshire, starting on Sunday, April 13.

Gloucestershire director of cricket John Bracewell insists the rest will be good for Klinger.

He said: “Michael will miss our pre-season so he and his family have a chance to freshen up with a holiday on their way over.

“That is going to be very important to him after so much virtually uninterrupted cricket.

“He played every game in all three competitions for us last summer and even took part in the tour match because he wanted to face Australia A.

“There were some inevitable niggles, which bothered him. I remember we had to drive him up to Yorkshire because he had hurt a hip and couldn’t drive himself.

“Even then he refused not to play the next day and went out and made a big score. He is a man of character.

“Since returning to Australia he has enjoyed a very good run in their 50-over competition and done well in the Big Bash as well as helping South Australia to be leaders of the Sheffield Shield, so it has been quite a schedule.”

Gloucestershire have announced a list of their pre-season fixtures, which starts with a one-day game against Glamorgan on Wednesday, March 19 at the County Ground in Bristol.

They will then face the same opponents in a two-day match at the Swalec Stadium starting the following day.

Gloucestershire will play a one-day game against Worcestershire on Monday, March 24 before facing their neighbours again in a three-day game at the County Ground starting on Wednesday, March 26.

They have also arranged two-day games against Warwickshire at Edgbaston from Tuesday, April 1 and Somerset at the County Ground from Thursday, April 3.