WICKETKEEPER Gareth Roderick could miss the start of the new county cricket season after fracturing his finger in Gloucestershire’s friendly against Somerset at the County Ground last week.

Gloucestershire begin their County Championship campaign against Hampshire in Bristol on Sunday, with Cameron Herring ready to deputise behind the stumps if Roderick fails to recover.

Pace bowler James Fuller appears to have won the race to be fit after featuring against Somerset and Ian Saxelby could also be in contention after returning from a groin injury to play in the second team fixture against MCC Young Cricketers this week, but Roderick’s hopes hinge on a visit to a specialist today.

Roderick became a key player in his first season at the club and batsman Will Tavare, 23, will be hoping to make a similar impact this summer after signing a one-year contract on the back of some impressive performances for Gloucestershire seconds last year.

He and left-arm spinner Tom Smith were the county’s only winter signings, the latter joining after a successful loan spell from Middlesex last season.

With Gloucestershire’s development of the County Ground still ongoing, director of cricket John Bracewell has again had to work with a limited budget, but has worked hard to keep the core of last season’s squad together.

Australian Michael Klinger has not played a part in the warm-up matches but will captain the side once again after a successful first season with the club, when he scored over 1,000 runs in both first class and limited overs cricket.

Gloucestershire declared on 153-8 in their two-day game against Somerset, before the visitors replied with 361 all out, David Payne and Smith taking three wickets apiece.

Tavare out-shone England international Jonathon Trott in the two-day friendly against Warwickshire at Edgbaston by hitting 69 in Gloucestershire’s 205-8.

Trott made just four on his first appearance since leaving Australia with a stress-related illness after the first Ashes Test as Warwickshire scored 112-2 on the first day.

Warwickshire started a new innings on the second day and reached 57-0 before rain stopped play.