Hameed in Ashes blow
ENGLAND were frustrated by rain at Trent Bridge yesterday as their second one-day international against the West Indies was abandoned after just 14 balls. But injuries to two Ashes hopefuls elsewhere caused more concern as Lancashire opener Haseeb Hameed fractured a finger for a second time this year and Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones struggled with a bad back. Roland-Jones had a second day of scans on an area of stiffness, which has been troubling him since the third Test against the Windies. England selectors are hopeful the problem will not be longterm.
But it is a blow, what with fellow fast bowler Mark Wood still trying to prove his fitness after heel trouble.
Hameed’s slim hopes of making the Ashes squad look to have all but disappeared.
The fracture, sustained when he was struck by a delivery from Middlesex fast bowler Jimmy Harris in the first session at Lord’s yesterday, is likely to keep him out for six weeks. England selectors are set to meet on Tuesday with a view to announcing the Ashes squad the following day at the Oval ahead of the fourth ODI in this Royal London Series.
The tourists, who managed 2.2 overs yesterday before rain halted England at 21-0, were without Chris Gayle, who suffered a recurrence of a right hamstring problem in the warm-up.
The opener would appear a doubt for the third one-dayer in Bristol on Sunday. Coach Stuart Law said: “He has been for scans and we will monitor him.
“But hamstrings don’t mend as well at 38 as they do when you’re 18. He said he didn’t want to risk it.”