White: All our thoughts are with fighter Carbs

The announcement left all at the ground in subdued mood.

Carberry was at the ground to break the news to his team-mates but left before the end.

Hampshire pulled off a 25-run win over their Welsh visitors but celebrations were muted and all the talk afterwards was about Carberry.

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White explained that everyone at the club was upset by the news.

He said: ‘Obviously it is terrible news and we are all in shock,’ said White.

‘Our thoughts are with Carbs and his family at the moment because it is obviously a very tough time for him.

‘He found out a couple of days ago and hopefully he gets through this.

‘It is a shock to him and of course to us.

‘He will be going back to find out more on Tuesday.

‘The next couple of days he wants to spend with his family.

‘We have to respect his privacy but will stand by and support him every way we can.

‘The club is numbed by the news and you could see that with the crowd.

‘They were very subdued.

‘An hour before the start Carbs went into the dressing room and told all his team-mates.

‘That was quite an emotional time and the players did fantastic to go out and play the way they did after that.’

It is the second time Carbery has been faced with a serious illness.

In 2011 he successfully battled a blood clot on his lung which threatened to finish his career.

It was midway through the 2011 season that he was given the all clear to resume playing.

‘Carbs has been a very popular member of our team for 10 years,’ said White.

‘It wasn’t easy for the players after they heard the news but I thought they made a fantastic response.

‘For us it was great to get back to winning ways and we saw a number of good young players out there.

‘It was very rewarding to see some of our younger players performing on the bigger stage.’

Club chairman Rod Bransgrove issued a statement explaining the situation about Carberry before the match took place at the Ageas Bowl last night.

He said: ‘Michael has been part of the Hampshire Cricket family for 10 years and on behalf of everyone at and associated with the club I would like to send him and his family our very best wishes at this very difficult time.

‘Carbs has taken on and beaten serious illness before and we will do all we can to make sure that he does the same again this time.’