India vs England 2021: Freak Injury Rules Zak Crawley Out From First Two Tests

In what is a blow to England ahead of the first Test against hosts India, top-order batsman Zak Crawley has been ruled out of the first two tests in Chennai following a freak incident.

Crawley did not attend the Joe Root-led England’s practice session on Wednesday. Apparently, the English No.3 slipped in the dressing room on Tuesday.

As a result, the batsman ended up damaging his wrist. He went for scans to assess the damage.

The England and Wales Cricket Board had released a press statement on Wednesday where it said that Zak Crawley’s participation in the final training session will ultimately decide whether he takes part in the first Test against England.

“Zak Crawley did not train today at England’s practice session in Chennai. He slipped outside the dressing room yesterday [Tuesday] and has injured his right wrist. We are waiting on the results of scans and will know more tomorrow, ahead of our final practice” the press-release said.

But, now it has been confirmed that the Kent batsman has been officially ruled out of the first two tests in Chennai. The England and Wales Cricket Board revealed the same in a press release on Thursday.

”Following the results of last night’s scan, England top-order batsman Zak Crawley has been ruled out of the first two Tests of the India versus England series. Scan results have confirmed that Crawley has jarred his right wrist, which has sprained the joint and led to local inflammation,”

”The Kent player sustained the injury during England’s practice in Chennai on Tuesday when he slipped on the marble floor leaving the dressing rooms onto the field of play. The England medical team will continue to assess his progress over the next few weeks,” the release added.

Zak Crawley endured a horrendous Sri Lanka tour where he was constantly dismissed by the left-arm orthodox Lasith Embuldeniya.

Playing as an opener in the absence of Rory Burns, Zak Crawley managed just 35 runs across four innings at an average of 8.75. But despite that, he was slated to bat at No.3 for England, come the Chennai Test.

With Johnny Bairstow not in the squad, if Zak Crawley is ruled out then England will now have to make a radical change in their tactics at the 11th hour. Either Dan Lawrence or Ben Stokes or even Moeen Ali, who averages 40+ in the 5 innings that he has batted in that position, maybe promoted or it’ll be skipper Joe Root taking the onus.

The first Test between India and England will kickstart at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on February 05.

Also Read: VVS Laxman Reveals He Couldn’t Hold Back His Tears After Seeing A Young Indian Team Fulfill His Dream Of Beating Australia In Australia