English pace bowler Dillon Pennington has been ruled out of England's upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury.
Pennington made his debut in the men's Hundred on Friday night, bowling for Northern Superchargers against Oval Invincibles. Defending 145, he bowled the second set of the innings, stringing together four dot balls before conceding a single. However, he was unable to return for another set.
Dillon Pennington ruled out of Sri Lanka Tests with hamstring injury
Pennington had been named in England's squad for the recently-concluded series against West Indies, but did not play a single match. On Sunday (August 4), England announced their squad for the series against Sri Lanka beginning on August 21, from which the pacer has been left out.
The ECB released the following statement along with the squad announcement: "Seam bowler Dillon Pennington, who featured in the Test squad during the recent series victory over the West Indies, will also miss the series after sustaining a hamstring injury while playing in The Hundred competition." Pat Brown has been named as his replacement for Northern Superchargers.
Read more: Who is Dillon Pennington?
Pennington was picked for England on the back of some impressive performances in the County Championship this season, after he moved from Worcestershire to Nottinghamshire in order to further his ambitions of playing for the national team. He has picked up 31 wickets in eight matches so far.
The pacer was also part of the same England U19 team as current Test star Harry Brook. At the 2018 U19 World Cup, he picked up six wickets and former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel said he was "blown away" by Pennington's pace. As a tall bowler with the ability to extract bounce, he fits the brief of what England's think-tank have been looking to add to their pace attack.
Olly Stone earns Test recall after three years
England's set of pacers for the Sri Lanka series remains identical to the one for the West Indies' visit, save for Pennington. His county teammate, Olly Stone, has been named in the squad instead, for the first time in over three years.
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