Otago fast bowler Michael Rae had hoped to shoulder more of the load this season.
But instead the 23-year-old right-armer is nursing a shoulder injury, and his workload has consisted of watching from the sidelines.
Rae had a breakthrough campaign with the red ball last season, and was hoping to establish himself in the one-day team this summer.
But he will miss the entire campaign, and is targeting a return during the twenty20 tournament which gets under way late next month.
"It is obviously pretty frustrating, but injuries are just part and parcel of the game,'' Rae said.
He has bursitis in his right shoulder. A bursa is a fluid-filled sack which helps reduce friction in the joints.
It became inflamed during the pre-season. He had a couple of weeks off and tried bowling again and felt fine.
He joined fellow Otago quick Warren Barnes in Sydney to polish off his preparation with some grade cricket. But the injury flared up again.
He had a cortisone injection but it did not help, so he was forced to return home early.
Rae tried bowling again after a few weeks rest and was making good progress. But he hurt his shoulder again last week.
"It is hard to say when I'll be back at the moment. The doctor said a couple of weeks' rest at least, so maybe I could be back during the twenty20s.
"I'm just trying to do everything I'm told [to get it right].''
Rae was Otago's joint leading wicket-taker in the first-class competition last season, with 29 wickets at an average of 25.10.
He brought tremendous energy with the old ball and was able to extract more bounce than most with his tall and powerful frame.
But he has played just three one-day games for the province, and had been hoping to add to that tally this season.
