Reece Topley faces the prospect of missing a large chunk of England’s limited-overs schedule against Sri Lanka and Pakistan after being ruled out for four to six weeks with a side strain.
The left-arm seamer – who was named in England’s white-ball squads last winter against India where he featured in two one-day internationals in March – injured his right side while representing Surrey’s second team on Wednesday.
Surrey say Topley is likely to “be unable to return to high-intensity training until the middle of July”, which would rule the 27-year-old out of three ODIs this month and three T20s at the start of July against Sri Lanka.
His involvement for three ODIs and three T20s against Pakistan from July 8-20 is in doubt, with Surrey resigned to losing the fast bowler for their Vitality Blast group stage campaign, which starts on June 10 and ends on July 16.
Surrey also think they will lose Topley for two fixtures in the LV= Insurance County Championship, where he has taken 15 wickets in four matches this season at an average of 24.93.
Surrey said in a statement: “Surrey and England fast bowler Reece Topley has been ruled out for four to six weeks after suffering a side strain.
“Topley, who has enjoyed a successful season in the LV= Insurance County Championship so far, suffered the injury to his right-hand side whilst representing the Surrey Second XI against Essex in New Malden on Wednesday.
“Given the likelihood that he will be unable to return to high-intensity training until the middle of July, the injury is likely to rule the fast bowler out of Surrey’s upcoming campaign in the Vitality Blast as well as the two LV= Insurance County Championship games against Hampshire and Somerset.”
