Hampshire's Michael Carberry out for at least a month

Carberry had been due to tour Australia for a month with as part of the EPP

Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry will miss the beginning of the new cricket season as he recovers from a blood clot on his lung.

Carberry, 30, pulled out of the England Performance Programme's trip to Australia this winter after being diagnosed with the problem.

"It's been a rollercoaster winter, and I'm gutted not to be starting the season," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"More importantly, I'm just pleased to be alive."

The left-hander added: "I'm going to take a few games off and make sure I get myself right health-wise, and then hopefully back on the park as soon as possible.

"The injury was a bit of an unknown quantity. The clot seems to have appeared over possibly the last year, but it really reared its head near the end of last season when I was struggling.

"I got the news three days before I was due to fly out to Australia, so had to pull out.

"I then spent about two weeks in hospital, and have been on medication ever since."

Carberry expects to miss at least the first month of the 2011 season.