BEN Charlesworth will have surgery this week after suffering a dislocated shoulder on the eve of the new season.

The former Oxfordshire opener, now at Gloucestershire, fell awkwardly as he dived to save a boundary early in a T20 friendly against Somerset.

It is awful timing for the 20-year-old, with his side starting their County Championship campaign against Surrey tomorrow.

Gloucestershire hope Charlesworth will be back for the second half of the season.

The youngster, from Abingdon, only played a limited amount of cricket in 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic delayed competitive matches until August.

He tweeted: "Gutted about this to be honest.

"Will be cheering the boys on from the sideline and determined to be back stronger later in the year."