Ed Giddins is out until June with a broken rib.

Giddins was left out of the side that had such an impressive first day at the Rose Bowl against Yorkshire yesterday after an MRI scan revealed he had a fracture

The 31-year-old took four wickets on his debut at Worcester before being struck by a ball from South African quick Nantie Hayward and it was initially believed that he was just suffering from severe bruising

Now Giddins, who joined Hampshire from Surrey in November, is out for a minimum of five weeks.

He said: "It is very, very frustrating. I worked hard all winter and was looking forward to the start and the first game at the Rose Bowl.

"You give everything and then something like this happens. After I was hit I was able to bowl because the swelling and pain had not yet kicked in.

"But over the course of the next 48 hours the cartilage swelled and I was in agony. It's the first time in my career I have ever broken a bone.

"The most games I have missed through injury is one and I was looking forward to contributing. I feel like a little bit if a spare part if I'm hanging around watching the others, it's not a pleasant feeling.

"But I have to keep everything in context, it's only 20 per cent of the season."