Middlesex have announced that Australian batsman Adam Voges will not be able to play for the county again this summer.

The 36-year-old was due to captain the Seaxes in their final four County Championship matches of the summer, starting with the trip to Edgbaston on 31st August.

However, Cricket Australia have refused Voges permission to play. He played all three Tests on Australia’s recent tour to Sri Lanka with a minor hamstring injury, and the side’s medical staff have advised him to return to his home in Perth to rest.

Mixed Form

Earlier in the season, Voges scored 388 runs at an average of 77.6 in six County Championship appearances.

His form was less impressive on the aforementioned Sri Lanka tour. Heading into the series as the batsman with the second-highest average in the history of the game, Voges failed to reach fifty in each of his six innings. His series average was a paltry 19.67.

Fraser Reaction

Middlesex’s Director of Cricket, Angus Fraser, told the club’s website:

“We are naturally disappointed that Adam cannot return. He is a fine player and a highly respected member of our squad. His presence will be missed.”

Other Overseas Options

“We have begun the process of seeing what other options may be available to us. As always seems the case, there is currently a lot of international cricket being or about to be played and international teams are understandably protective about their best players.

“In Adam’s absence we have a fine captain in James Franklin. James has done a brilliant job for Middlesex so far this summer and he will now continue to captain the club for the remainder of the season.

“Within our squad we also have plenty of strength in depth, as we showed during the County Championship win against Durham, which was achieved without an overseas player.

“Everyone at Middlesex CCC is excited by and looking forward to what should be a thrilling last month of the season.”