Cork out of Pakistan tour

Dominic Cork: Forced home early Photo © Colleen Briggs CricInfo Ltd.

Dominic Cork is out of the England tour to Pakistan. The back injury that has restricted his mobility for the past fortnight has not recovered sufficiently for him to be considered for the three-day game against a PCB XI. With back-to-back Test Matches following that game the decision has been made that Cork will return home.

A scan of Cork's back has revealed no sign of a stress fracture, and it is hoped that rest will enable him to rejoin the England party for the tour of Sri Lanka.

With Alex Tudor already flown out for backup, England are unlikely to send for a replacement. Tudor, who is still to play a game in Pakistan, is the only all-round alternative to Craig White.

"I thought it was one of those bowler's niggles that you get from not bowling on grass for a while at first but it's constantly got worse," Cork revealed.

"I still want to go to Sri Lanka and the aim is to see a specialist as soon as possible. It's disappointing to go home when you're on a tour because you're with a group of guys and you want to see it out.

"I'll be watching very closely on television and hoping they can do well, but I believe I have still got a lot to offer and when I get fit hopefully I can get back in the side."