Kent have been handed a major blow with the news that influential batsman Martin van Jaarsveld will miss two weeks through injury.

Van Jaarsveld (pictured) broke his right index finger taking a high catch in training last Thursday, but played through the pain barrier in the t20 games at Tunbridge Wells over the weekend, though he made just seven runs in the two defeats combined.

Kent director of cricket Paul Farbrace said: “Jarre had a scan on Monday and it showed he has broken a finger and will be out for about two weeks. He is a fantastic player and it is a big blow to him and to us.”

Farbrace said he hoped the South African – topping the averages with 40 this season – would be able to return for the LV= County Championship Division 2 trip to Lords to play Middlesex on June 19.

It is an untimely blow for Kent as Farbrace hoped that the arrival of veteran South African seamer Charl Langeveldt – who made a wicket-taking debut in Friday’s nine-wicket defeat to Somerset – and Pakistan left-armer Wahab Riaz, would boost the county’s fortunes, starting with the Friends Life t20 games at Somerset on Friday and Glamorgan the following day.

Farbrace said: “To lose one of your best players, such a high quality batsman, right when we have a couple of overseas bowlers coming in is very difficult to take.”