London
England’s fast-bowler Josh Tongue has been sidelined from the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand due to injury. The 25-year-old, who had recently showcased his prowess in Test matches against Ireland and Australia, was slated to make his white-ball debut for England. Unfortunately, he joins fellow uncapped bowler John Turner on the injury list for the New Zealand T20Is. As a replacement, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has drafted in the experienced fast-bowling all-rounder Chris Jordan into the 15-man squad. Jordan’s impressive track record in T20s, with 96 wickets in 87 matches, underscores his capability as an asset to the team. England’s T20I series against New Zealand is set to commence with the first match at Chester-Le-Street on Wednesday. Subsequent fixtures will unfold in Manchester, Birmingham, and Nottingham on September 1, 3, and 5. In another setback, left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone will miss the upcoming season of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia. This decision follows a dislocated right shoulder sustained during a warm-up for Manchester Originals’ recent fixture in The Hundred. The 24-year-old, ranked as the top bowler in ODIs and T20Is, was already rested for England’s forthcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka starting from August 31. The ECB stated that no specific timeframe for her return to the sport is available at this time.
