Injury puts Zak Crawley's Pakistan tour in doubt, potential replacement being considered

Zak Crawley is expected to miss England’s entire Test series against Sri Lanka and may struggle to be fit in time for the tour to Pakistan due to a broken finger that required surgery.

He sustained the injury while dropping a catch during England’s Test victory over the West Indies at Edgbaston last week. Consequently, Crawley was ruled out of The Hundred and is now likely to miss the three Tests against Sri Lanka starting on August 21.

Lawrence has been in excellent form since transferring from Essex to Surrey, boasting an average of 53.09 this season, including a 175-run knock against Worcestershire in June. Additionally, his off-spin bowling, a key reason for his move, has yielded 15 wickets at an average of 36.66 this season.

Lawrence's off-spin might be a crucial asset for England in the three-Test series in Pakistan, starting on October 7.

During England's last tour of Pakistan in 2022, Will Jacks played a significant role with his supplementary off-spin. Crawley faces a tight timeline to recover, as broken fingers typically heal in six to eight weeks.

With the Pakistan series nine weeks away, any delays in his recovery could jeopardize his fitness for the start of the series.