Hampshire strike bowler Fidel Edwards faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines - after breaking his ankle while playing football.

The former West Indies star, whose 45 wickets inspired last season's Great Escape, sustained the injury during a game with his Hampshire teammates on the Headingley outfield before the final day of the Specsavers County Championship draw against defending champions Yorkshire.

Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein revealed: “We were only 45 seconds away from the end of the game when Fidel went to kick the ball.

“I was just about to get the mitts on for fielding practice when his foot got stuck in the turf and all his weight went over on it.

“There was no-one near him, it was a really freakish fall and there was a loud crack.

“It was clear it was bad when he started calling out for T [Hampshire physio Thihan Chandromohan]."

Hampshire have confirmed in a statement that Edwards broke his right ankle.

He flew back from Leeds this morning before posting news of his injury on instagram.  He is seeing a specialist in Southampton today.

Benkenstein, who spent the day as one of three substitute fielders, continued: “I feel really sorry for him, the team are giving him lots of support.

"We wish him all the best and hope it isn’t as bad as we think.”

Manchester United fan Edwards is not the first Hampshire player to be injured while playing football as part of the county’s warm-up, a popular practice amongst players across the country.

Benkenstein continued: “The debate about playing football before games goes on but the players really love playing oldies against the young 'uns before play.

“It gets them going in the morning. I’ve seen players break collar bones during catching practice so you can’t really criticise the method.

“But accidents like this always get flagged up.”

Hampshire were already without Reece Topley (fractured hand), Ryan Stevenson (back), Gareth Berg (knee) and Liam Dawson, who strained his abdomen during the first day’s play against Yorkshire.

Chris Wood also limped off during the first innings while Sean Ervine suffered a suspected fracture to his left index finger, a repeat of the injury that kept him out for much of last season, during his magnificent 123.

The one consolation for Hampshire was their outstanding comeback against Yorkshire and the fact their next game is not until May 1.

Wood will be fit for Middlesex and it is hoped Ervine is too (he has an X-ray today).

But Dawson is out for three weeks, Berg and Topley are unavailable till June and Stevenson is "nowhere near ready".

Benkenstein continued: “Luckily we’ve got ten days before we play Middlesex and were very encouraged by how we finished against Yorkshire.

A loan signing is a possibility but the likelihood is that Hampshire will give an opportunity to Brad Wheal and Mason Crane against Middlesex, when Jimmy Adams should return from an ankle injury.

“We’re putting our heads together but at this time of year there’s not much around,”added Benkenstein.

“If there’s no one available who's world class we’ll give opportunities to the likes of Brad Wheal and Mason.

“We're hopeful we’ve got enough within our own ranks after competing so well with the best side in the country."