LANCASHIRE batsman Luis Reece has broken his hand after an incident in the dressing room, according to cricket director and head coach Ashley Giles.

The 24-year-old left-handed opener made only 16 and two as Lancashire lost for the first time this season against Gloucestershire.

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Asked how Reece broken his hand, Giles said: “I’m not quite sure yet.”

“I’ll have to look into that situation and I can let you know when the time’s right.

“I need to speak to him, get to the bottom of it and see where we go.”

Giles admits death bowling is a problem he must solve if Lancashire are to enjoy another profitable NatWest T20 Blast campaign.

The coach was impressed with how the Lightning played last year en-route to a final appearance against his former side, Birmingham Bears, only to lose a high-scoring thriller at Edgbaston.

A feature of Lancashire’s play last year was their ability to win matches they had no right to - Durham away defending a target of 134 and at home to the Bears defending 126 on successive nights in late May spring to mind.

They succeeded in such matches thanks to excellent death bowling from Kabir Ali and Pakistani overseas Junaid Khan, neither of whom will line up in tonight’s North Division opener against Leicestershire at Emirates Old Trafford (6.30pm). Kabir has retired due to injury and Junaid has not been re-employed, with Giles preferring to recruit Australian all-rounder James Faulkner.

Faulkner is one of the best death bowlers around, but he is currently completing his Indian Premier League commitments with Rajasthan Royals.

“The problem we’re going to have this year is that we’re going to miss Junaid and Kabir,” Giles said.

Squad: Croft, Bailey, Brown, Buck, Clark, Davies, Edwards, Lilley, Livingstone, Mahmood, Parry, Petersen, Prince.