Topley out for three months with back injury

Reece Topley, the Hampshire left-arm seamer, has been ruled out for the entire international season having been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the back.

Topley, a member of England's limited-overs squads, was injured on his Hampshire debut when he was struck on the hand while batting. But he reported pain in his lower back while training and has now been told he will have to rest for at least three months.

"Reece Topley has been diagnosed with a partial stress fracture of the lumbar spine and will require a significant period of rehabilitation," an ECB spokesman said. "He will miss the next three months and aim for a return with Hampshire before the end of the season."

Topley has still not managed to bowl a ball for Hampshire having joined from Essex. "I was completely devastated to hear the news," he told the Hampshire website. "I just want to play for Hampshire and contribute to their cricket."

Topley suffered his first back injury during the 2013-14 winter - believed to be caused by over-bowling as a 19-year-old when he emerged rapidly onto the county scene - and, during the 2014 season, fell victim to it again. In 2015, his last season with Essex, he played just two Championship matches as his workload was managed.

It was when he was called up to bowl at an England net session during the New Zealand one-day series that he impressed the coaching staff and he was named in the T20 squad to face New Zealand, before making his debut later in the summer against Australia. He was part of the World T20 squad in India although was left out after the opening two matches.

This latest injury is understood to be slightly different to the previous two he has suffered and is not a complete fracture.

There was better news of David Willey and Mark Wood. Wood's rehabilitation following ankle surgery is said to be "progressing well" and he is expected to start some gentle bowling this week.

Willey, meanwhile, has been diagnosed with a small abdominal tear. It is hoped he will return for Yorkshire's second NatWest Blast T20 fixture against Worcestershire at New Road on June 2.