Josh Hull has been ruled out of England’s upcoming Test tour of Pakistan due to a quad injury. The injury, which he sustained during his debut in the final Test of the summer against Sri Lanka, has forced England’s selectors to make the tough decision of standing him down for the three-match Test series.
Debut against Sri Lanka
Hull made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at The Kia Oval during the final Test of the summer. The debut was unexpected but came as a result of a strong performance in training and an injury to Mark Wood. In the first innings, Hull impressed with figures of 3 for 53, showing glimpses of his potential. Despite this, England suffered their only Test defeat of the summer, as Sri Lanka chased down 219 in the final innings.
The quad injury that ultimately ruled Hull out of the Pakistan tour was initially picked up during his debut Test match. The 20-year-old experienced discomfort while bowling, but at the time, the injury was not deemed serious enough to prevent him from continuing.
The England Cricket Board (ECB) initially pulled Hull out of the limited-overs series against Australia, hoping that the rest period would allow him to recover in time for the Pakistan tour. At that point, the injury was seen as manageable, and there was optimism within the camp that Hull would regain full fitness. Unfortunately, as the injury lingered, the decision was taken to prioritize his long-term health.
With Hull’s absence, England will be without the left-arm variety he brings to the bowling attack. However, the selectors are confident in the 16 players they are taking to Pakistan.
England’s test schedule in Pakistan
The three-Test series in Pakistan is set to begin on October 7, with the first match scheduled in Multan. The tour will mark England’s first Test series in Pakistan since 2005, and the conditions are expected to be challenging. England will be keen to bounce back after their loss to Sri Lanka and make a strong start to the winter cricket season.
England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, and bowling consultant, James Anderson, played significant roles in Hull’s inclusion. Both coaches were impressed by his performances in training, particularly his ability to swing the ball consistently. Their faith in him further emphasized his potential, and they were excited about fast-tracking his development.
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