Rory Burns faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the county season after being forced to undergo surgery to treat ankle ligaments ruptured playing football while on England duty.

An ECB statement confirmed that, though the surgery, which took place on Monday afternoon, was successful, Burns will be out for up to four months, and with Surrey’s County Championship campaign starting on April 19, it will be touch and go whether the left-hander recovers in time.

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He is certain to miss the entirety of England’s tour of Sri Lanka, potentially leaving the door open for Keaton Jennings to return. Though the Lancashire opener has struggled in England, with a high score of 48 from 10 Tests at home, he averages 44.44 in Asia and has made both of his Test hundreds so far in the subcontinent.

Burns’ injury has led to football being barred from England training sessions. The ECB are yet to name England’s squads to tour Sri Lanka or a replacement for Burns in their squad to face South Africa.

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