Fast Bowler Josh Tongue Ruled Out Of England's Upcoming Summer Assignments

Major Setback For England

Just When the England Test team was looking to build a bowling group for the post-James Anderson era an injury to Josh Tongue has hampered their chances.

Tongue, 26, has got a setback in the form of a pectoral injury which has kept him out of the game since August last year, which meant he missed the important tours of West Indies and India and now he'll be missing the home season.

Statement From The England Cricket Board

Josh has had a setback to his original injury. There is no timescale on when he'll return to action

Anderson, the veteran seamer, will be stepping away from the game after the first Test against the West Indies, which will be played at Lord's from July 10. Josh Tongue was expected to replace the veteran fast bowler, with his ability to bowl fast thunderbolts, England was also hoping that he would get his body ready for the workload at home before the ashes in Australia next year.

Tongue made his Test debut against Ireland in June last year and went on to represent England even in the Ashes series that followed. He ensured that captain Ben Stokes was impressed with his versatility, what with his ability to bowl full with the new ball and then play the "aggressor" role when the ball went soft and old.

England, who are also without Stuart Broad who retired last year, will have to find a bowling personnel that works for them upfront. They fortunately have Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson with a good amount of experience between them along with the likes of new guys in Matthew Potts and Gus Atkinson.

England will host Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia this season. They will play six Tests across the summer, with 3 each against Sri Lanka and West Indies. Meanwhile, Australia will tour England for a limited-overs series after playing a hard-fought Ashes last year.