Lawson to miss Test series against Sri Lanka

Jermaine Lawson has been ruled out of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka with a bad back - and not due to his suspect bowling action.

Lawson's action was reported by the umpires and investigated by the match referee Mike Procter during the fourth Test against Australia in Antigua last month. Lawson took a Test-best 7 for 78 in the match, but has since been working with Dr Michael Seepersaud, the West Indies Cricket Board's Chief Cricket Development Officer, along with a specialist from the ICC, in order to straighten out the kink in his delivery.

To make things worse, he has since suffered a back injury which ruled out any chance of a comeback in the one-day series against Australia and Sri Lanka, and now any appearance in the Test series against Sri Lanka, starting on June 20, has been ruled out too.

Seepersaud said: "We cannot make much progress while the injury to the back remains a concern. We have been informed that Jermaine has worked almost daily over the last couple of weeks doing core strengthening and has been undergoing tests to determine the state of the back injury."

He added: "We are pleased to see Jermaine's response to the treatment, but believe that the rigours of test cricket would likely overwhelm his back. Jermaine can start the remedial work on his bowling action next week, if it initially involves activities of little intensity."