Dillon Pennington ruled out of The Hundred 2024 and Sri Lanka Test series with hamstring injury

The England Cricket Team has been hit by a severe blow as Dillon Pennington has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury that he sustained during the ongoing The Hundred 2024.

The fast bowler’s chances of making his international debut jolted after he was forced to withdraw from the ongoing Hundred 2024 due to a hamstring injury. The ECB confirmed that Pennington will miss the Test series against Sri Lanka.

Dillon Pennington set to miss Sri Lanka Tests with hamstring injury

Pennington, who has been a standout performer in the County Championship this season, taking 31 wickets at an impressive average of 23.80 for Nottinghamshire, was on the radar to be picked in the England squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting on August 21.

His recent County Championship performances had caught the eye of England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes. The star all-rounder had said that if the England team needs Pennington, then he will surely be offered the opportunity in the home Test series as the pacer is already a ready-made product.

However, the 25-year-old’s England debut dreams were shattered when he was struck down by a hamstring injury during his debut for the Northern Superchargers in the ongoing The Hundred 2024 in England.

The incident occurred during his brief appearance against the Oval Invincibles, where Pennington was forced to leave the field after just five deliveries, as he was unable to complete his spell. Later, Derbyshire's Pat Brown has been signed as Pennington’s cover by the Northern Superchargers.

As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the Northern Superchargers confirmed that Pennington will not be able to return to action for the remainder of the ongoing The Hundred 2024, and it eventually ruled him out of England’s home Test series against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to commence on August 21 at Emirates Old Trafford.

As England’s preparations for the upcoming home Test series against Sri Lanka face uncertainty, the national selectors are monitoring Pennington closely. Apart from Pennington, Zak Crawley will also miss the Test series due to a fractured right little finger sustained during the third Test against the West Indies.

England Test Squad For Sri Lanka Series:

Ben Stokes (C), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Earlier, Ben Stokes had said in praise of Pennington: “There's no doubt that if an opportunity comes to him, then he'll be ready to go. He's done everything that you'd expect someone in a squad to do—even if they're not playing. He's got a naturally high release point, and I think his move to Notts has been very good for him.

He's had a lot of clarity given to him... his bowling has progressed so quickly over the last year. That's the feedback that we got from not only the guys who we use for that, but also Ben Duckett fed back, saying he's bowled some spells this year [like] at Test level.”