INJURY: Dan Belt

DORSET manager Sean Walbridge has warned pace bowler Dan Belt he must "manage his body better" if he is to continue to make his mark at Minor Counties level.

Walbridge has made his remarks after the 20-year-old all-rounder sustained a thigh injury playing for Martinstown in the Dorchester Evening League.

The injury forced Belt to sit out Dorset's three-wicket defeat against Cambridgeshire at March on Sunday - only a week after he had returned to the county side following a year out.

Belt missed all of last season through injury - he has suffered from a back problem in the past.

But he had made a disciplined comeback by taking one for 35 in 10 overs in a MCCA Trophy 32-run defeat against Lincolnshire at Sherborne School and looked set for a long run in the county side again.

Belt, who moved from Bournemouth back to his former club Dorchester over the winter, looks set to miss Dorset's championship opener against Wales at Swansea later this month.

Walbridge said: "I would imagine Dan will be out for at least a couple of weeks. It's very frustrating, very disappointing for him and for us.

"Quite simply, Dan has to start managing his body better.

"He has just spent the last 12 months out injured. If he is going to play regularly he needs to do the proper warm ups and warm downs.

"Dan needs to try and get his body fit, and that will come from playing more cricket. He just needs to do all the exercises and manage himself before and after matches.

"That would enable him to put a consistent number of games behind him because we know he can do a good job when he is fully fit.

"Dan, when fit, is a very vital member of the side and has a really big part to play.

"We really need him fit and Dorset cricket needs him fit.

"He is a fantastic talent and has the potential to be a really true great Dorset player as an all-rounder.

"To do that, he has to make sure he looks after himself and his body.

"We need him playing because a fully fit Dan Belt is a big plus for the Dorset county side."

5:47pm Monday 12th May 2008

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