Luke Wright will undergo surgery to solve the wrist injury which has blighted the start of his debut season as Sussex captain.

Wright saw a specialist today to confirm the extent of the problem and is scheduled to go under the knife on Monday.

The injury – combined with a back problem – kept Wright out of Sussex’s opening County Championship match at Northamptonshire this week. He will also miss the first home game of the season against Essex on Sunday but head coach Mark Davis is hopeful the 31-year-old will be back in contention for the third match against Leicestershire on May 1.

Davis said: “We need to make sure we get it right because this is a problem which has been affecting Luke when he bats for a while now. He had to pull out of the final of the Pakistan Super League with it and it has flared up again so if he does have to have a small operation then it is best to get it sorted now.

“It is only be a minor procedure and Luke would only be out for four days to allow the scar to heal. He won’t play against Essex but the plan is to have him back and fully fit for the Leicestershire match.”

Wright missed Sussex’s two pre-season friendlies against Surrey and Hampshire after complaining of a back problem picked up while carrying his daughter on a flight back to England from New Zealand last month.

The former England international did feature in the first class match against Leeds/Bradford MCCU but withdrew for the trip to Northamptonshire after experiencing discomfort in his back.

Wright’s back is understood to have improved after having an injection but the continuing problem with his wrist means vice-captain Ben Brown will lead the side again on Sunday.

Davis is more optimistic that Chris Nash will be available to face Essex having been ruled out of the game at Wantage Road with bone bruising in his foot while Matt Machan has been given the all-clear after being hit on the helmet while fielding at short leg on Sunday.

Davis said: “Nashy is out of the protective boot and off the crutches so he is going to train today and tomorrow and then we’ll make a decision about Sunday. He is not in pain anymore so that is encouraging.”

Sussex’s frustrating start to the season continued yesterday as no play was possible for the second day running in their division two match at Northants. Despite blue skies the umpires deemed the pitch too wet after rain had seeped under the covers, denying Sussex the opportunity to pick up any batting bonus points and leaving Ben Duckett stranded on 282 not out.

Davis said: “It was incredibly frustrating and quite poor to be honest. Water had got under the covers so the umpires had no option really.”