Mahmood ruled out for six weeks

Sajid Mahmood joins the list of England bowlers on the sidelines © Getty Images

Injuries to England's pace bowlers continue to mount up with Sajid Mahmood set to undergo a double hernia operation. He will be out of action for up to six weeks and unavailable for the remaining internationals against West Indies.

Mahmood, who played in Lancashire's Championship match against Sussex at Hove, will have the operation next week. It was unlikely that he would have played in either of the remaining two Tests, after not being included in the squad to date, and his one-day place was also under the spotlight following wayward performances at the World Cup.

Mahmood has enjoyed mixed fortunes so far this season. He has six wickets from three Championship matches, but reportedly bowled with plenty of venom at Hove this week, while his one-day performances have continued to produce mixed displays.

His lay-off also rules him out of the domestic Twenty20 and at least two Championship matches. Lancashire have a strong seam department with Glen Chapple due to return from injury shortly, although they may now be having second thoughts about the recent loaning of Kyle Hogg to Worcestershire.

Matthew Hoggard is set to miss the third Test against West Indies, after not recovering from his groin injury, and Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out until the second half of the summer following further ankle surgery.