91�ȱ�

Somerset and England wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter is set to miss the 2015 season after suffering a setback in his recovery from an eye injury.

He broke his nose and damaged his eye socket and cheekbone when a ball went through his helmet grille while batting against Northants in July.

The 27-year-old has since struggled to regain perfect vision.

Somerset have said Kieswetter's long-term prognosis is unknown but he is "unlikely" to be fit for next year.

The South Africa-born keeper said in a statement: "It is really disappointing but my eye is not 100% and this of course is critical in maintaining the levels of performance that I expect of myself.

"I need to make every effort to resolve the matter and have the best specialist help in that regard."

Kieswetter, who has played 46 one-day internationals, had been named in England's 30-man squad for the World Cup, which starts in February.

He recently appeared for Warriors in South Africa's domestic T20 competition, scoring 199 runs at an average of 22.11 in his 10 outings.

And only last week he was announced as a new signing for Sydney Thunder in Australia's Big Bash League, but he has since withdrawn.

Kieswetter scored 497 runs in the T20 Blast in 2014 and also contributed 419 runs in Division One of the County Championship prior to suffering his injury at Wantage Road.