EAST Albury has suffered a blow on the eve of the Cricket Albury-Wodonga finals with left-arm opening bowler Gurjit Sandhu returning to England.

Sandhu, who was originally scheduled to return to the UK later this month to join his Middlesex teammates for pre-season training, was called up by selectors last week following a spate of injuries to the County side’s pace attack.

Fellow Crow import Tom Wells will also miss the club’s finals campaign after rejoining Leicestershire this week.

“Gurjit’s pretty much had to go back with his commitments over there,” skipper Joel Shepherd said yesterday.

“It was hard for him.

“We have a few options and will just see which way we go in the next few days.”

Sandhu took 11 wickets at 24.3 in six matches for East Albury and formed a lethal new ball attack with leading wicket-taker Cameron White.

The 21-year-old arrived on the Border in December after being a professional for Middlesex since 2011.

Youngster Chris Bridle has opened the bowling for East Albury on several occasions this season and is likely to assume added responsibility in Saturday’s semi-final against Belvoir at Alexandra Park.

The minor premiers will regain Shepherd after he missed their loss to St Patrick’s at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Wodonga premiership player Byron Hales looks set to be called up to play against Tallangatta on Saturday after bowling almost 20 overs in second grade at the weekend.

Brendan Klein-Boonschate, who has been battling back problems for the past two months, looks far less likely after managing four overs.