St George’s will be without their captain Mishael Paynter for two months after he suffered a broken thumb while fielding in a First Division match against Devonshire Recreation Club last weekend. Paynter, who took over the captaincy this season after the departure of Oronde Bascome to Southampton Rangers, was in the slips when he attempted to take a low catch off the bowling of player-coach Ryan Steede and suffered the injury.

“He will be out until after Cup Match for six to eight weeks,” Steede said.

The injury was a blow to both the player and his club who lost the match by 100 runs, with Paynter unable to bat after Devonshire Recreation Club posted 265.

Paynter, who also plays for Cleveland Counties in the Eastern Counties, had set himself goals this season of reclaiming a Cup Match spot after his only appearance in 2010, and also being a part of Cleveland’s team for the defence of their counties title.

“It’s a big blow to the team, he’s an early-order batsman who was looking to regain a spot in Cup Match and the Eastern Counties,” Steede said. “It’s a setback and now we have to find somebody to get his runs and to replace his leadership.

“He has been training pretty hard and putting in the work and it’s an unfortunate injury.”

St George’s have six weeks to decide on a captain for Cup Match, although Paynter, with only one Cup Match appearance (2010) would probably not have been considered a strong contender.

The job of leading the team against Somerset on July 30 and 31 could go to either Rodney Trott or OJ Pitcher, captains of Bailey’s Bay and St David’s, although Pitcher has also been sidelined with an injury.

Lionel Cann, a former captain, is another possible option.

“Nothing is confirmed yet, and a few other people have shown interest,” Steede said. “There are a few people we are going to look at before we make a decision. The trial matches will determine a lot.”