James Anderson’s replacement, Josh Tongue’s pectoral injury worsens

England’s hopes for the summer Test matches have been dashed as fast bowler Josh Tongue’s recovery from a chest muscle injury has stalled, putting him out of action for an unknown amount of time.

Even though a pectoral injury has kept him off the field since last August, Josh Tongue was a frontrunner to replace the retiring James Anderson.

Tongue’s debut against Ireland saw him take a match-winning five-wicket haul, a feat he impressively replicated in the heart of the Ashes at Lord’s.

These early heroics had him pegged as the heir apparent to the legendary James Anderson.

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James Anderson has announced his retirement from Test cricket after taking 700 wickets in the format and becoming the third-highest wicket-taker in the world. The West Indies Test will be the last we will see of Anderson in cricket.

However, Tongue’s return from a pectoral injury has hit a snag, throwing a wrench into England’s plans and raising serious questions about his availability not just for the immediate series, but for his future involvement with the national team altogether.

This latest injury setback means he’ll miss both the upcoming white-ball tour and the Test series against India.

Not only that, he is much likely to miss the three-match West Indies series and his injury also casts a shadow over his participation in the subsequent series against Sri Lanka.

England officials haven’t offered a specific timeline for his return, stating only that his injury has worsened.

This lack of clarity is a significant blow to England’s bowling attack, as Tongue was seen as a vital piece in their plans for the summer Tests.

The England Cricket Board (ECB) will have to find a replacement for Josh Tongue before the international Test season begins.