England’s need to hit the ground running this summer after the Ashes debacle could be threatened by injuries, with Matt Prior and Ben Stokes in danger of missing next month’s Test series against Sri Lanka.
Prior is hot favourite to return as wicketkeeper-batsman despite losing his place for the final two Tests of the winter, but that could be put in jeopardy by the chronic achilles condition that is stopping him keeping for Sussex.
Stokes has been all but ruled out of the one-day matches against Sri Lanka that precede the two Tests and it is clear that the broken wrist he suffered while punching a dressing-room locker in Barbados in frustration at getting out is taking longer to heal.
Add the fact that Stuart Broad is unlikely to be risked in the limited-overs matches as he rests various niggles, particularly his knee problem, and it is clear that England’s new regime will be without key players.
Prior is the biggest worry as he is still seen as a crucial figure and is expected to see off competition from Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Steve Davies.
‘It’s a concern because he’s played a game and his achilles flared up,’ said Peter Moores, England’s new coach. ‘He’s on a break now and we need to make sure that when he plays it doesn’t flare up again.
Prior scored a century as a specialist batsman in Sussex’s first championship match of the season but has missed the past two games. He may play against Lancashire tomorrow as a batsman only and if he comes through that test, England hope he will keep wicket against Durham in the following match.
England’s injured players are not the only ones causing concern. It is clear that Kevin Pietersen, with tweets to accompany every England decision, will be a constant presence in the background this summer.
Moores, who lost his job with England in 2009 after a clash with Pietersen, said: ‘It’s something I can’t control. It’s important that Kev has his say but we hope to prove that the future is more exciting than the past.’.
