Tremlett undergoes back surgery

Chris Tremlett, the England fast bowler, has undergone back surgery in London. He was suffering from a bulging disk and was forced to fly home from England's tour of the UAE after the first Test against Pakistan.

Tremlett, 30, will undertake a rehabilitation programme at Surrey, in conjunction with the England medical staff, and a date for his return will be agreed. Tremlett posted on Twitter that he hoped to play again by the end of April.

Having made his comeback in Dubai after a five-month absence, Tremlett looked out of sorts, taking 0 for 53 before being ruled out of the remainder of the series, as well as England's tour of Sri Lanka that begins at the end of March.

With England's bowling options very deep, many fear this latest problem could spell the end of Tremlett's international career, in which he has taken 49 wickets at 26.75 in 11 Tests, including 17 in the victorious Ashes series last winter. After making his debut in 2007, he didn't play international cricket again for three years, in part due to a variety of injuries.