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Harmison ruled out of Lanka Tests
One day after being crushed by ten wickets in the opening ODI against Sri Lanka, England suffered another double setback on Wednesday.
One day after being crushed by ten wickets in the opening one-day international against Sri Lanka, England suffered another double setback on Wednesday.
Paceman Stephen Harmison was ruled out of the Test series with a back injury while fellow quick James Anderson will miss the second one-dayer on Friday because of a twisted ankle.
"James has been receiving ice treatment to the area," said a spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
"He was injured playing squash and will undergo an x-ray on Thursday, with further assessment likely in the next 24 to 48 hours."
Anderson will be replaced by seamer James Kirtley or spinner Gareth Batty as England look to avenge Tuesday's 10-wicket defeat in the first one-day international in which they were dismissed for just 86.
Meanwhile, Harmison, who was forced to return home early from the Bangladesh tour last month with a bad back, had planned to rejoin the squad in Sri Lanka.
However, after undergoing treatment at the new national academy at Loughborough, he failed a fitness test.
"I'm disappointed not to be leaving for Sri Lanka as planned because of my back injury especially when I feel my Test career is going forward with every game," Harmison said.
"Missing the tour is hard, but I know that injury is just part of the highs and lows of being a professional sportsman. My main aim now is to get fit as soon as possible and return to the England team, hopefully before the end of the Sri Lanka tour."
Richard Johnson will retain his place in the Test squad after originally being called up as a replacement. The three-Test series begins at Galle on December 2.
