Olly Stone: England pace bowler to miss Test cricket summer with knee injury

England have made no secret of their preference for bowlers of high pace, particularly for the tour of Australia, where they have not won a single Test since 2011.

And while the injury to Wood and the subsequent doubt over his availability to travel down under is the major concern, the loss of a back-up in Stone only adds to England’s worries.

Brydon Carse is missing the start of the season because of blisters and cuts on his left foot, while there remain doubts over whether Jofra Archer will be fit to play Test cricket again.

Gus Atkinson, Chris Woakes and Matthew Potts have been England’s other first-choice seamers in recent times, while Josh Tongue is playing for Nottinghamshire this week after an 18-month battle with injuries.

Stone’s injury could enhance the case of Surrey’s Dan Worrall, who played three one-day internationals for Australia but will qualify to play for England by the time of the Test against Zimbabwe in May.

Hampshire pair John Turner and Sonny Baker, along with Essex’s Sam Cook and Surrey’s Jamie Overton, could come into the equation.

Leicestershire 20-year-old Josh Hull, who made his Test debut last summer, is missing the start of the County Championship season through injury.