Josh Hull, the promising Leicestershire left-arm seamer, has been ruled out of England’s Test tour of Pakistan due to a persistent quad injury. The 20-year-old sustained the niggle during his debut in the final Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval.
Initially, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) believed Hull had sufficient time to recover and withdrew him from the limited-overs series against Australia. However, the injury has lingered, forcing the decision to exclude him from the three-Test series in Pakistan.
England will not call up a replacement and will travel to Pakistan with a 16-man squad on October 1. The first Test in Multan commences on October 7.
Hull’s selection for the tour was intended to accelerate his development as a unique asset for England’s bowling attack. Standing at 6ft7in, his left-arm angle and ability to swing the ball into right-handers offer a distinct skillset.
After impressing in a tour match against Sri Lanka, Hull was drafted into the squad following Mark Wood’s injury in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford. His strong performances in training caught the attention of head coach Brendon McCullum and bowling consultant James Anderson, leading to his surprise debut at The Oval.
Hull displayed glimpses of his potential, taking 3 for 53 in the first innings. However, he failed to claim any wickets in the second innings as Sri Lanka chased down 219 to inflict England’s only Test defeat of the summer.
The match marked Hull’s 11th first-class appearance, a season in which he had managed only two wickets in three Division Two appearances for Leicestershire, at a high average of 182.50.
It remains uncertain whether Hull would have featured in Pakistan or if he will be included in the tour to New Zealand. The ECB will monitor his recovery closely.
