The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Sunday, August 25 confirmed that their star pacer, Mark Wood will miss the remainder of the Test series against Sri Lanka after sustaining an injury during the opening Test of the three-match series in Manchester. Wood, however refrained from bowling on the fourth day of the first Test at the Emirates Old Trafford, he has been now ruled out of the ongoing series after scans confirmed a muscle strain.
Notably, Wood sustained the injury on the third day of the first Test, which England went up to win by five wickets. Scans later confirmed that there remains a right thigh muscle strain. The 34-year-old pacer left the field just two balls into his 11th over and further did not take part on the fourth day of the opening Test.
Josh Hull to replace Mark Wood in England squad for Test series vs Sri Lanka
With Wood missing the last two Tests against Sri Lanka, the ECB has named Josh Hull, a 20-year-old left-arm pacer from Leicestershire. Hull has received his maiden senior call-up ahead of the second Test, which is scheduled to kick start from Thursday, August 29 at the Lord’s in London.
It is to be noted that Hull made his debut for second string England Lions, starring with the figures of 5/74 in a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka.
England’s updated Test squad for Sri Lanka Test series
Ollie Pope (C), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Dan Lawrence, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.