LONDON, July 1: England pace bowler Andrew Caddick has been ruled out of the five-Test series against South Africa because of a back injury.

In a statement on Tuesday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Caddick, 34, had been advised to rest for the remainder of the season.

“Caddick, who has been suffering from sciatica, underwent a scan last week which revealed a prolapsed disc in his back,” the statement said.

“He was recently diagnosed with a stress fracture of the right foot which is expected to have healed within the next two weeks.”

ECB chief medical officer Peter Gregory said Caddick would be reviewed by a specialist in six weeks’ time.

“If he has not improved, then surgery will be considered as an option,” Gregory said.—Reuters