Hameed heads home for hand surgery

Haseeb Hameed's tour of India has been ended with Alastair Cook confirming he needs to return home to have surgery on his injured hand.

Chris Woakes, who missed the second Test in Vizag, was also under an injury cloud. He took a blow to the helmet from Mohammed Shami the ball before he was dismissed, a blow to the hand the ball he was dismissed and after the match went for an assessment with the team doctor. It is also understood his knee is troubling him. More news is expected within 24 hours, but he must be considered a doubt for the Mumbai Test.

Nineteen-year-old Hameed provided brave resistance on the fourth day in Mohali with an unbeaten 59 off 156 balls but in the post-match presentation Cook said he needed a plate fitted to repair the injury.

"Unfortunately, he's got to go home and have a plate put in his hand, it's pretty bad," Cook said. He later added to Sky Sports: "It's a real testament to his courage, and I've no doubt we'll see him again in an England shirt.''

Initially he was due to have an x-ray after the third Test finished, but instead it was done on the third day with the results sent back to the UK for assessment. He had taken blows during the first two Tests and was struck on the hand when dismissed in the first innings in Mohali.

Hameed had enjoyed an impressive start to his Test career after having been overlooked for the two Tests in Bangladesh. He made 82 in the second innings of his Test debut in Rajkot, resisted for 144 balls as England attempted to bat out for a draw in Vizag and then shone in another losing cause in Mohali.

England will now need to consider a replacement to the squad ahead of the Mumbai Test on December 8. They have Ben Duckett, who opened in Bangladesh, but he was dropped for Mohali in favour of Jos Buttler, having made 18 runs in three innings during the first two Tests. Gary Ballance is also in the party and could come into the middle order if Root stays at opener.

Nick Gubbins, the Middlesex left-hand batsman, or Durham's Keaton Jennings will be candidates as opening batsmen in county cricket while Essex's Tom Westley and Kent's Daniel Bell-Drummond, who are both right-handed, could be considered as well. All four are currently in the UAE as part of the Lions' winter programme.

A left-field choice, to try and counter India's spinners, would be Sam Billings, the Kent wicketkeeper-batsman who has played ODI and T20 cricket and is renowned as an excellent player of spin. However, that route would still require looking for another opening solution. Nick Compton, who is currently working in Mumbai, might also be considered.

Most of the England players will now have a few days off before preparing for the Mumbai Test, but Stuart Broad has cancelled his holiday and will link up with the England Lions squad in the UAE to continue his rehab from the foot injury which ruled him out of Mohali. He expected to return to running on Wednesday and remains hopeful of being fit for the Mumbai Test.