Bowler Stuart Broad will miss the remainder of England’s Test series against India because of a calf tear.
Broad, 35, was initially ruled out of the second Test, which starts on Thursday, but a scan on Wednesday has revealed a tear to his right calf.
He is England’s second-highest Test wicket-taker and could have played his 150th Test at Lord’s.
James Anderson, 39, is also a doubt for Thursday with a quad muscle niggle – so Saqib Mahmood has been called up.
England, who have Mark Wood and Craig Overton as the other pace-bowling options in the squad, expect more information on Anderson’s injury later on Wednesday.
The series is level at 0-0 after the first Test at Trent Bridge was drawn.
Broad, who has 524 wickets, felt a sharp pain in his calf when doing a warm-up ‘shuttle run’ during England training on Tuesday and left the field immediately.
“Things can change so quickly,” Broad wrote on social media. “A moment before training all smiles then during the warm up, I jumped a hurdle, landed a bit awkwardly on my right ankle then the next step felt like I’d been whipped by a rope as hard as you can imagine on the back of my leg.”
He added: “Season over and gutted to miss this India Test Series but a huge focus on Australia now. Going to take my time, no rush, baby steps & be the fittest I can be heading out there. Big focus in my brain.”
England’s fast-bowling resources are already depleted.
Jofra Archer, with an elbow injury, and Olly Stone, with a back problem, are long-term absentees, while Chris Woakes is out with a heel issue.
All-rounder Ben Stokes has also taken an indefinite break from cricket to focus on his mental wellbeing.
Anderson moved to 621 wickets – third on the all-time list – during the first Test but he missed training on Wednesday.
Asked if England can manage without their two attack leaders, batsman Jonny Bairstow told BBC Sport: “I don’t see any reason why we can’t cope.
“We’ve had a lot of people stand up previously. We don’t know exactly what will happen tomorrow, but there might be an opportunity for someone to play a Test at Lord’s, and that’s an exciting prospect.”
Bairstow did admit it is “naturally” a blow to lose bowlers of the calibre of Anderson and Broad, but added: “I don’t think it’s too much of a destabiliser.
“It’s the nature of professional sport. There will be injury and illness at times. You have to be adaptable.”
England already looked set to make changes to their side, with spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali likely to come in for a batsman to give greater depth and variety to the attack.
Batsmen Haseeb Hameed and Ollie Pope are also in contention to return.
India will be without fast bowler Shardul Thakur, who has a hamstring injury.
His absence could mean a return for off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was left out of the first Test despite having 413 Test wickets to his name as India opted for four front-line pace bowlers.
“Four fast bowlers means you can apply pressure in every session,” said captain Virat Kohli. “We like playing with that template.”
Kohli confirmed that Thakur is likely to be fit for the third Test at Headingley.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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