Dominic Cork likely to fly home

Lahore, Nov 21: England all-rounder Dominic Cork faces the prospect of flying home early after his back injury was taking more time to heel than expected.

Cork, who flew in for the Test series, had staged a come back against the West Indies in the English summer after an 18-month lay-off.

England physiotherapist Dean Conway said he was sitting with his fingers crossed.

He said: "He (Cork) not really racing on and at the moment he's quite a serious doubt. He needs to prove his fitness with this three-day game and at the moment he would probably struggle to bowl in the nets."

England, who had a second successive day off, will take the field on Wednesday for the practice session. It is expected that Cork will undergo a further fitness test before his future on the tour is decided.

But Conway said: "We're going to need quite a dramatic turnaround if he's going to

play and if he doesn't do that, he's going to struggle to be

in contention for the last two Tests without proving his fitness.

"We've had investigations done here, but with all due respect we'd like to get him back and get him checked out by specialists at home so we can get opinions for Sri Lanka."

Cork has played in just the four-dayer at Rawalpindi on this tour.