Indefinite Injury Sidelines England’s Fast Bowler

England’s cricket team has been dealt a significant blow as fast bowler Josh Tongue faces an indefinite period on the sidelines due to a pectoral injury setback.

Tongue, who hasn’t played at any level since August of the previous year, was considered a strong contender to fill the shoes of James Anderson upon his retirement from Test cricket after the first Test against the West Indies.

Potential Successors to James Anderson

Tongue’s injury has been a persistent issue since his impressive performances in two Test matches last year. This injury had already sidelined him for England’s white-ball tour of the Caribbean and the ICC World Test Championship series in India earlier this year.

This recent development implies that Tongue will be absent from England’s three-match home series against the West Indies. It also casts doubt on his participation in the subsequent three-match series against Sri Lanka.

World Test Championship Standings

An official statement from England’s cricket team read: “Josh has had a setback to his original injury. There is no timescale on when he’ll return to action.”

Tongue made a remarkable debut for England in their one-off Test against Ireland, taking five wickets in the second innings. He earned another cap in the second Ashes Test, taking five wickets against Australia at Lord’s.

With Anderson’s impending retirement from Test cricket after the first Test of England’s summer against the West Indies at Lord’s in early July, Tongue was seen as a potential successor.