ENGLAND’S INJURY CONCERNS MOUNT
England’s hopes of averting a 3-0 whitewash in the West Indies were hit when Ben Stokes emerged as a doubt for the third Test against the West Indies, with Ben Foakes and Chris Woakes also managing injuries.
If the worst happened and all three were ruled out of the game in St Lucia, which begins on Saturday, England would have just 12 fit players to choose from.
Stokes was present at training yesterday, England’s first full session since their three-day defeat in Antigua, but did not take part due to bruising on his right heel.
Foakes, who was hit on the hand by a Shannon Gabriel delivery last week and was unable to keep wicket in the second innings, was involved but has yet to be given the green light by medical staff and Woakes is highly unlikely to make it as he manages a longstanding knee complaint.
England were keen not to make any early assessments, with another full day of preparation work ahead, but Stokes’ ability to balance the side as a top-five batsman and reliable seam bowler makes any question mark overs his participation serious.
He would be considered as a specialist batsman even if he was unavailable to fulfil his duties with the ball, but England will give themselves more time to make a judgement.
Restructuring the side, or just the batting order, remain possible but with Adil Rashid having flown home to be with his pregnant wife options are limited.
Meanwhile, having lost the Test series against the West Indies, England will need to overcome a returning Chris Gayle to gain revenge in the one-day leg.
The Windies will be chasing a 3-0 clean sweep against the tourists when the final Test gets under way in St Lucia on Saturday but, with the Wisden Trophy already secured, attention is also shifting to the five one-day internationals.
Big-hitting left-hander Gayle, a veteran of 284 ODIs with 23 centuries, opted out of recent series against India and Bangladesh but is due to end his six-month absence from duty.
Uncapped wicketkeeperbatsman Nicholas Pooran has been handed his first call-up and spinner Ashley Nurse is back from injury, but fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has been rested in a bid to manage his workload.
“We welcome the return of Chris Gayle who missed the last two series and Ashley Nurse from injury,” said chairman of selectors Courtney Browne.
“We are pleased to introduce Nicholas Pooran to the ODI squad for the first time. He is clearly a young player with undoubted talent and we believe he can add value to our middle order.”