HAMPSHIRE’S reserve seamers have been challenged to show why they should replace Reece Topley against county champions Yorkshire at Headingley this weekend.

England star Topley has been ruled out for six to eight weeks after fracturing his right hand while batting against Warwickshire on his Hampshire debut on Sunday.

So Hampshire director of cricket Giles White will be keeping a close eye on Brad Wheal and Chris Wood during the second team’s two-day friendly against Lancashire, which started today.

“Reece’s injury is a little unknown still,” said White. “We’ll see how it’s healed in a week’s time and that will shape how we move forward with his recovery and rehab.

“It’s one of those things. Reece is bitterly disappointed, as we are. We just have to make sure we get it right for when he returns.

“It’s an opportunity for someone else. There are young players in the second team looking to put in good performances and get in the team come Sunday and that’s healthy.”

Tom Alsop will continue as Michael Carberry’s opening partner when Yorkshire begin the second successive defence of their title, as Jimmy Adams is still unavailable with the ankle injury he sustained on the pre-season trip to Barbados.

“Jimmy is due to play for the seconds next week and then be fit for Middlesex [at The Ageas Bowl a fortnight on Sunday],” said White.

“Every squad will be tested at some stage during the season. We happen to have that right now, but we’ll hopefully have a full quota later in the season.

“That’s the game.”

At least Hampshire head for Leeds with some momentum after Liam Dawson and Adam Wheater shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 73 to secure a draw against Warwickshire.

White continued: “It was a very important partnership. We still had Ryan McLaren in the hutch but with Reece injured two quick wickets and we’d have been under pressure.

“They both showed character, made good decisions and held firm and Daws’ carried on his form from last year, when he was very consistent in all forms.”

There were echoes of Hampshire’s top-order struggles of last season when they collapsed to 87-7 in their first innings and 112-5 in their second.

“It’s not an easy time to bat, everyone’s trying to find some form in tough conditions and there was good bowling by Warwickshire,” said White.

“But they’re all good players and will hopefully get runs at Headingley. At this stage it’s important we don’t lose games so this has set us up very well.”