England fast bowler Josh Tongue has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Australia with a toe injury, the ECB confirmed on Saturday, 7 November. The 28-year-old will return to the UK for further assessment, and no replacement has been named.
"Josh Tongue has been ruled out of England Men's white-ball tour of Australia due to a toe injury. He will return to the UK to undergo further assessment." — ECB
A blow before the series starts
The series begins on Friday, 13 November, with the first ODI at Perth Stadium. Tongue arrived in Perth earlier in the week with the touring party but did not play in England's 92-run practice-match win over Western Australia on Saturday. The injury is to his big left toe.
It is a setback for England ahead of a busy white-ball stretch in Australia, with the three ODIs followed by a five-match T20I series. Further updates on Tongue's condition are expected after his assessment in the UK.
Picked for the ODIs only
Tongue had been selected for the ODI leg of the tour only, having been left out of the T20I squad as part of a wider plan to manage his workload ahead of England's Test tour of South Africa next month. The 28-year-old has played 15 Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is for England.
What it means for England
With no replacement named, the rest of England's squad will have to cover the pace-bowling workload when the series gets under way in Perth. Tongue's absence takes a proven Test performer out of an ODI attack that was already being reshaped around a busy schedule.
Source: ICC