ST JOHN’S (Antigua), June 14: West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson has been ruled out of the two Tests against Sri Lanka with a troublesome back injury, the West Indies Cricket Board said on Friday.

The 21-year-old Lawson has been out of cricket for almost a month recovering from bulging discs in his lower back.

Lawson’s back problems have also set back remedial work on his bowling action, which is under review by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after umpires David Shepherd and Srinivas Venkatraghavan reported him during the fourth Test against Australia last month.

“We cannot make much progress while the injury to the back remains a concern,” said Dr Michael Seepersaud.

Seepersaud, who is the West Indies Cricket Board’s Chief Cricket Development Officer, is supervising the review process of Lawson’s bowling action.

“We have (been) informed that Jermaine has worked almost daily over the last couple of weeks doing core strengthening and has been undergoing tests to determine the state of the back injury,” said Seepersaud.

“Initially, he had some stiffness, but now is devoid of pain.

“We are pleased to see Jermaine’s response to the treatment, but believe that the rigours of Test cricket would likely overwhelm his back.

“Jermaine can start the remedial work on his bowling action next week, if it initially involves activities of little intensity.”

Seepersaud said the WICB had received an assessment of Lawson and had studied video footage of the bowler’s action.

Lawson has captured 29 wickets at 24.31 runs apiece in seven Tests. During the series against Australia, Lawson claimed a hat trick in the third test at Bridgetown and career-best figures of seven wickets for 78 runs at St John’s.

West Indies’ first Test against Sri Lanka starts on June 20.—Reuters