England Opener Crawley Out of The Hundred with Broken Finger, Sri Lanka Series in Doubt

England’s promising opener, Zak Crawley, has suffered a significant setback after fracturing his little finger on his right hand while fielding during the third Test against West Indies. The injury has forced him to withdraw from the ongoing Hundred tournament, with fears growing that he could also miss a crucial part, if not all, of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.

The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, with a decision on whether surgery is required expected this week. The injury occurred when Crawley dropped a catch at second slip on the final day of the Test match. He was promptly taken to hospital for X-rays, which confirmed the fracture.

Search for a Suitable Replacement

Crawley’s absence from The Hundred has necessitated a replacement, with Keaton Jennings stepping in for London Spirit. The left-hander could emerge as a potential candidate to open the batting for England in the Test team if Crawley’s recovery is prolonged.

However, there is speculation that the English management might opt for Dan Lawrence, a middle-order batsman who has been on the fringes of the Test squad for the past 18 months. The decision on Crawley’s replacement will undoubtedly be a crucial one for the English selectors.

Atkinson Impressed by Wood’s Pace

Meanwhile, England’s pace duo of Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood are set to spearhead the attack against Sri Lanka. Atkinson, who was named player of the series against West Indies, has expressed his admiration for Wood’s raw pace and has vowed to increase his own speed.

“It will be pretty tough to get up to that sort of pace, but I will always be looking to improve my pace,” Atkinson said. “It’s my first time playing three games back to back, so physically it’s been a good test. But that is something I will try to improve on, getting my pace higher and higher.”

Atkinson also revealed that he made significant changes to his run-up after returning from the India tour in March, which has contributed to his improved performance. He pulled out of the IPL to focus on Test cricket and has been rewarded with a successful debut series.

With Crawley’s availability for the Sri Lanka series uncertain and the pace bowling department looking formidable, England will be hoping for a strong showing in the upcoming Test matches.

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