England batsman Marcus Trescothick may miss the rest of the season with a multiple fracture of his thumb. The Somerset opener had to leave the field during the Cheltenham & Gloucester quarter-final match against Worcestershire.

Trescothick suffered the injury as he stopped a fierce cover drive from Graeme Hick. Somerset physio Darren Veness confirmed the injury will keep him out for at least six to eight weeks, with a return for the ICC Champions Trophy in September his target.

"You would have to say now you are looking at the rest of the domestic season," Veness confirmed. "It is just not realistic to get him back before then. Our own specialist is monitoring it, and it is certainly starting to look as if it will not need surgery.

"In that case they will try to keep everything intact under anaesthetic and then plaster-cast it. But obviously he is a contracted player (for England), and England may want someone else to have a look at the injury."

Trescothick immediately ran off clutching his hand after the injury, having saved a certain four. His team-mate Keith Dutch saw the impact at close quarters and said he knew instantly Trescothick was in trouble.

"I could see as soon as it happened that it was bad," Dutch said. "Straightaway when it hit him I could see his reaction. It bounced awkwardly on him, and he closed his hands a bit too quickly on it."

Given Trescothick's magnificent form this summer (he scored a century in Saturday's NatWest final against India) his injury is a huge blow to the England selectors. Mark Butcher, who is recovering from knee surgery but is expected to be available for next week's first npower Test against India at Lord's, would be the obvious candidate to open the innings in Trescothick's place.

John Crawley, who has featured in England Test squads this summer and remains in good form, might then fill the vacancy at number three.

Trescothick's Somerset team-mate, Andrew Caddick is also unlikely to play in the Lord's Test after he was ruled out of today's quarter-final. Caddick, who sustained a side strain during the third Test victory over Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last month, failed a fitness test this morning.

The England squad for the first Test is announced tomorrow, but Somerset coach Kevin Shine doesn't believe Caddick will make it.

"He had a fitness test and didn't come through it too well," said Shine. "He still has a couple of weeks of rehab to do. There are four Tests left and maybe he can get in a couple at the end.

"He had a bowl on Sunday, and it looks like the reaction took place on Sunday night. By Monday it was not right. I would be amazed if he was fit for the first Test and I have spoken to Duncan Fletcher and told him the situation.

"The thing with Caddy is that he is a quick healer. He is desperate to get back and play and he was desperately disappointed when this happened.

"Rib injuries are always a dodgy area, and until you play your first game you are not going to know if it is right. You cannot afford to come back too early from a rib injury - if you do then you could be in real trouble."

© CricInfo Ltd.