England’s preparations for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka have been hit hard with the news that opening batsman Zak Crawley will be absent due to a fractured finger.
The injury, sustained during the recent West Indies Test series, comes as a blow to England, who triumphed 3-0 in the series.
Adding to England’s difficulties, seamer Dillion Pennington has also been sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during The Hundred competition. This leaves England with a gap in their bowling attack that will need to be filled.
Despite these setbacks, there is a silver lining for England fans. Jordan Cox and Olly Stone have been named in the 14-man squad for the series.
Cox, a talented middle-order batter from Essex, has been included following his strong performances in the County Championship. His selection is seen as a reward for his excellent domestic form.
Stone, a fast bowler renowned for his pace, makes a return to the Test side after a two-year absence. His inclusion adds valuable depth to England’s pace attack, which will be crucial for the series against Sri Lanka.
The three-match Test series begins on August 21 at Old Trafford, with crucial ICC World Test Championship points at stake. Sri Lanka, currently positioned fourth in the standings, will present a significant challenge for England, who are placed sixth.
England will aim to build on their recent Test successes and secure a series victory against Sri Lanka. The squad for the series includes captain Ben Stokes, along with Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, and Mark Wood.
As the team prepares for this important series, England will be hoping that their new inclusions can rise to the occasion and fill the void left by the injured players.