Matthew Fisher will miss the start of Yorkshire’s NatWest T20 Blast campaign after failing to recover from hamstring problems which have dogged him since pre-season.

The 18-year-old fast bowler has suffered two injuries to his left hamstring, which is an obvious blow county given he was their leading wicket-taker in last season’s Blast with 16 wickets from 13 games.

It was hoped he would spearhead their bid for a fast start to a competition which begins for them on May 27.

He initially suffered a tweak in Dubai in late March, having recovered from that, he suffered a more serious recurrence during a second-team game at Bristol in early April.

Coach Jason Gillespie delivered the news after the third day of Yorkshire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey at Headingley was rained off with only 13.2 overs possible.

Yorkshire’s bid for their first win of the season at the fourth attempt is now under serious threat.

“Matthew tweaked his hammy in Dubai and then did it again in a second-team when he was bowling really well,” said Gillespie.

“He’s out for a little while. He’s combining his studies with his rehab at the moment, but he’s moving around nicely.

“Hopefully he will be bowling sooner rather than later, but he will miss the early stages of the Blast.”

Gillespie also delivered injury updates on more experienced duo Ryan Sidebottom and Tim Bresnan, who are recovering from ankle and calf injuries.

Sidebottom has missed the last two Championship matches, while Bresnan has not yet played this season.

Bresnan’s return will come before Sidebottom’s, with the former currently playing in a second XI match against Kent at Beckenham. He scored 66 on Monday’s first day, and it is hoped he will bowl today.

A best case scenario will see him fit for Sunday’s Championship match against Somerset at Taunton, although Gillespie said: “We don’t want to rush it. Brezzy is a massively important player for us. I want him to be 100 percent fit before we consider him.”

Sidebottom, “shattered” to not be playing at the moment, will also not be rushed back.

Yorkshire added 71 runs in 13.2 overs of play yesterday as they advanced from 486-5 to 557-6 against Surrey, with Joe Root completing a superb double century.

The England man added 23 runs to his 190 overnight before chipping Ravi Rampaul to mid-off via a leading edge.

Adil Rashid’s unbeaten 60 contributed to a first-innings lead of 227 in reply to 330.

Unfortunately, there was no play beyond 12pm to leave Yorkshire hoping for fine weather for today’s fourth day.

Meanwhile, the county are confident overseas batsman Travis Head will fulfil his duties at Headingley from mid-July to the end of August despite being named in Australia A’s 24-man squad for a series of matches involving South Africa.

Left-handed Head, currently at the IPL, is due to replace Kane Williamson from July 18 potentially until the end of the season if other commitments allow.