MANCHESTER: England fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka due to a thigh injury and will be replaced by left-arm seamer Josh Hull, the England Cricket Board said on Sunday.

Wood injured his right thigh during the first test at Old Trafford and the 34-year-old did not bowl on the final day as England secured a five-wicket victory.

Leicestershire’s Hull, 20, earned his first call-up to England Test squad for the remaining two games against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, starting on Thursday, and The Oval.

Hull, six feet seven inches tall, played for the Lions against Sri Lanka this month.

Chris Woakes is expected to lead the pace attack at Lord’s, supported by a combination of Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, and Hull.

England have had to alter the balance of their side after regular captain Ben Stokes was ruled out of the Sri Lanka series by a torn hamstring, with Ollie Pope appointed as stand-in skipper.

England squad: Ollie Pope (Captain), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Dan Lawrence, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone and Chris Woakes.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2024