Plunkett added to England injury list

Liam Plunkett won't be bowling for England for at least two Test matches © Getty Images Enlarge

Liam Plunkett has been ruled out of the second and third Tests against Pakistan after picking up a side strain bowling for Durham against West Indies A last week. There is also a doubt as to whether he will be available for the final Test, at The Oval, but England are hopeful he will be fit for the five-match one-day series.

He was selected in the 14-man squad for the second Test at Old Trafford, which starts on Thursday, but after consultations with the England physio Kirk Russell early on Tuesday his injury was found to be serious enough to him to miss at least two weeks of action.

Sajid Mahmood, the Lancashire fast bowler, could now be recalled at his home ground while Gloucestershire seamer Jon Lewis is also in contention.

Plunkett played in the match against West Indies A mainly to work on his batting, which Duncan Fletcher hopes will develop into No. 8 standard, but he also opened the bowling before breaking down in his seventh over.

Matthew Hoggard, the only England bowler not to have missed a match through injury in the past year, told BBC Radio Five Live: "It's disappointing news about Liam. He is obviously a talented cricketer and he has shown us what he can do, and unfortunately he is another one that has succumbed to injury."