Denly was already included in England’s Test squad due to arrive in Sri Lanka next week but has been drafted in earlier than planned and could stake a claim for England’s World Cup campaign.

[caption id=”attachment_84931″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Liam Dawson delivers a ball during a practice session in Dambulla[/caption]

Dawson, who featured in the first two ODIs, felt pain in his side while bowling in Saturday’s victory in Dambulla and aggravated it later in the day. England medics have since ruled him out of action for approximately one month.

[breakout id=”0″][/breakout]It’s a real blow for the Hampshire all-rounder as he had hoped to cement his position in the side ahead of next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup on home soil.

Instead, that opportunity could be given to Denly, primarily a batsman but whose leg-spin bowling in county cricket this year has impressed. He averaged 70 with the bat in the Royal London Cup and was named the PCA’s player of the year in one-day cricket.

[caption id=”attachment_83363″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Joe Denly poses with a cheque after being named the PCA’s Most Valuable Player 2018[/caption]

[breakout id=”1″][/breakout]Arguably more renowned for his limited overs talents, Denly was reportedly close to securing a place in England’s ODI squad for Sri Lanka in the first instance but lost out to Dawson as England’s third spinner behind Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

The 32-year-old is unlikely to arrive in time for Wednesday’s third ODI in Kandy, with one of the Curran brothers, Tom or Sam, likely to step in for Dawson.