Zak Crawley misses the first Two Tests against India after exploding a joint in his right wing after falling outside England’s dressing rooms during practice in Chennai on Tuesday; the first Test begins on Friday.
Last updated: 04/02/21 7:09 am
Scanning results have confirmed that Zak Crawley has snatched his right fist
Zak Crawley, England’s high-ranking bat, was ruled out of the first two trials against India with a sustained shoulder injury after slipping over at training.
The Kent player was injured while in England in Chennai on Tuesday when he slipped on the marble floor leaving the dressing rooms on the pitch.
A subsequent scan has revealed that Crawley shook his right wrist, which has torn the joint and caused local swelling.
Crawley was about to drop down to No. 3 for the opening of the series in Chennai, after opening the batting with Dom Sibley during the 2-0 Test series victory in Sri Lanka last month.
Crawley scored 267 against Pakistan from the No 3 spot last summer but averaged just 8.75 opening the bat in Sri Lanka with a top score of 13.
The England and Wales Cricket Board added in a statement on the eve of the first test that the English medical team will “continue to evaluate its progress over the next few weeks”.
The third game of the four-Test series – due to start on February 24 – will be a day-long test at the newly built Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad, with the series ends from March 4th.
Crawley’s absence prompts a reconsideration of England’s battery order at Chepauk Stadium, with the visitors aiming for the sixth consecutive test win.
England have announced that Ollie Pope is available for the series opener after he was confirmed to be returning to fitness after an abstract shoulder held while playing in the Test about last in England against Pakistan in August.
India have been unbeaten on home ground in Trials since 2012, when Sir Alastair Cook’s side finished series 2-1.
England squad for India’s first test: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
Reporting over the first Test in Chennai continued from 4am on Friday on Sky Sports ’digital platforms.