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Tasmania upbeat on Bailey return

Tigers hopeful 36-year-old will feature in Sheffield Shield campaign again this summer after positive x-ray results

Tasmania are optimistic they haven't seen the last of veteran George Bailey this season after receiving encouraging signs from scans on his injured shoulder.

Bailey dislocated his right shoulder while fielding in the Hobart Hurricanes' KFC Big Bash semi-final clash with the Melbourne Stars last Thursday, prompting fears he could miss the remainder of the JLT Sheffield Shield season.

But Cricket Tasmania are hopeful the 36-year-old will be right to play again this summer as the Tigers look to make their second Shield final in as many seasons.

Bailey injures shoulder in boundary save

"The scans undertaken on George's shoulder have come back as well as they could have done," Hurricanes and Tasmania coach Adam Griffith said.

"We will monitor the progress of his recovery over the next two weeks before providing a further update, though we are hopeful that George will make a return to playing for the Tigers this season."

Bailey appeared in severe pain and had to be escorted off Blundstone Arena after popping his shoulder out while diving in the outfield against the Stars.

The injury to Bailey was a further blow to the Hurricanes last week, with BBL|08's standout regular-season side going down by six wickets in the semi at Blundstone Arena.

The former Australia limited-overs captain had an outstanding BBL season, smashing 363 runs at 45 with a strike-rate of 149 while often batting late in the innings.

The Sheffield Shield has not been as happy a hunting ground this summer for Bailey, who has struck 270 runs at 22.50 in six games before the BBL break.

Having led Tasmania's resurgence to last season's Shield final, which they lost to Queensland in a weather-affected clash in Brisbane, Bailey handed the captaincy reins to Matthew Wade in November to concentrate on his bating.

The Tigers, who sit fifth on the Sheffield Shield standings after six games, resume their first-class campaign at Adelaide Oval against South Australia on Saturday.