Cricket

England's fast-bowling stocks have suffered a significant setback with the news that Jamie Overton has been diagnosed with a lower-back stress fracture. The injury will sideline him for the upcoming Test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka this summer.Overton made his Test debut at Headingley in June 2022, impressing with two wickets against New Zealand and a gritty 97 from No. 8. However, a stress fracture ruled him out of the Ashes last summer. Despite initial scans on his back being inconclusive, he has now been diagnosed with another stress fracture that is likely to keep him out for the rest of the English summer.The news is a cruel blow for Overton, who was expected to feature in England's squad for the T20 World Cup in June. He had been in impressive form for Surrey in the County Championship, but felt discomfort after their draw against Somerset.England's fast-bowling depth will be tested this summer, especially with Stuart Broad having retired after the Ashes and James Anderson set to bow out of international cricket after the first West Indies Test at Lord's.Josh Tongue, who joined Nottinghamshire from Worcestershire in the off-season, is yet to feature this season and is unlikely to play Test cricket this summer due to a pectoral muscle issue. Saqib Mahmood, who is returning from multiple stress fractures of his own, has also experienced setbacks, while Matthew Potts only bowled three overs in Lancashire's second innings against Durham.The injury concerns highlight the importance of managing fast bowlers' workloads and ensuring they are adequately rested and rehabilitated. England will need to find replacements for Overton and other injured bowlers to maintain their competitiveness in the upcoming Test series.

England's T20 World Cup squad selection faces a dilemma as Jamie Overton's back injury casts doubt over his availability. The Surrey allrounder, who has impressed as a short-format allrounder, was expected to receive his maiden T20I call-up. However, an inconclusive scan has left his injury status uncertain.Overton's absence from Surrey's recent County Championship fixtures has raised concerns. He is scheduled for another scan in two weeks, but England's provisional squad for the T20 World Cup must be submitted by May 1.The selection panel, led by Rob Key, will meet soon to finalize the 15-man squad. Ben Duckett is a contender for the spare batter role, while Tom Hartley is likely to be the second spinner ahead of Rehan Ahmed.Jofra Archer is expected to be included in the provisional squad and given a chance to prove his fitness against Pakistan. Chris Jordan, who was omitted from the squad that lost to West Indies in December, could also be recalled due to Overton's injury.The identity of England's wicketkeeper is another topic for discussion. Jos Buttler's captaincy duties may make it challenging for him to keep wicket, especially with the ICC's new fielding penalties for slow over-rates. Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow are potential alternatives.The ECB has not yet clarified whether England players will be allowed to participate in the IPL knockout stages if their franchises qualify. This could impact the availability of players like Buttler for the start of the Pakistan series.England's squad announcement is expected on Tuesday morning. They have until May 25 to make changes, but they will aim to avoid a repeat of last year's World Cup debacle when Harry Brook was added to the squad at the last minute.