Flamboyant Somerset Cup Match batsman Richard Basden is facing a race against the clock in his bid to get fit for this year's summer classic.

A freak accident involving a lawn mower has left the west enders' star struggling to regain match fitness.

Basden suffered a fractured toe, lost a toenail and required several stitches to close the wound after he was badly cut on his right foot by the mower's oscillating blade.

The gifted left hander has been sidelined since May 20, just a day after claiming two for 25 during Cuts' 46-run win over Devonshire Rec at Somerset Cricket Club. It was his only appearance in a match this season.

"I was cutting the grass and the lawn mower popped up and caught the edge of my toe," Basden recalled.

"I was pretty much fortunate that I had my hard-toe boots on which saved me a great deal of additional pain.

"Other than that, my nail is completely gone. The toe was also fractured and cut up a bit, so I got stitches."

Basden noted that the injury was steadily on the mend, although he says he will let it heal fully before returning to the cricket pitch.

And he's unsure yet whether that means he will miss Cup Match. Twice in recent years when he's been left out of the team, Somerset have beaten their east end rivals.

"I can walk and stuff, but the tissue on top of the nail is still a bit tender," added Basden.

"Once that hardens up, then the nail will eventually grow back. But for the moment I have no intentions of playing cricket.

"I won't rush back. But I haven't notified the club yet to let them know exactly what's going on."

Basden is the only Cup Match colt to score two half centuries (55 and 57 not out) on his debut in 1985 at Wellington Oval.

Meanwhile, Bailey's Bay skipper Corey Hill has already been ruled out of the big match after he was slapped with a five-match suspension that extends over the Cup Match holiday.