Kieswetter's injury 'could be career-ending'

There are fears that the cricket career of 27-year-old England wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter could be over.

Kieswetter broke his nose and damaged his eye socket and cheekbone when a ball went through the grille of his helmet in a English county match in July.

He underwent facial surgery and returned to action in September, but has since complained of impaired vision and will travel to Belgium this week for further assessment from a specialist.

His county Somerset expect him to miss at least the 2015 season and director of cricket Matthew Maynard fears the injury could even lead to a premature end to his career.

"We're hoping that after he sees the specialist he'll have a method of getting his eye back to 100 per cent," Maynard told the BBC.

"The feedback we get from that will be quite instrumental, but potentially it could be career-ending."

Kieswetter's comeback appeared to be on track after he returned for Somerset late in the season before heading to South Africa to play domestic T20 cricket for the Warriors.

But it was during his time in South Africa that Kieswetter realised his vision was still effected.

"He came back for a couple of games and although he knew the eye wasn't quite right, he was just delighted to be back playing at that stage," said Maynard.

"But then he went out to play in South Africa in the Twenty20 and he struggled. He was struggling to pick up the line and length of the ball.

"If you can't do that, it's going to be hard to score runs and it also makes you very vulnerable.

"If we were to get him back that would be a huge lift for everyone. But we are planning for him to not be around this season."

Kieswetter has played 46 one-day internationals and 25 T20s for England, including a match-winning 63 in their World T20 final triumph over Australia in 2010.