Graham Onions has been called into the England squad for the fourth Test against India at The Oval, after Chris Tremlett was ruled out on Monday and James Anderson emerged as a new injury concern.
Although Anderson’s leg injury has so far been described as “minor” his potential unavailability would be a major blow to England’s hopes of closing out a 4-0 whitewash of India.
“Unfortunately Chris Tremlett has failed a fitness test and won’t be available for selection for the fourth npower Test, despite showing strong signs of recovery over the past few days,” national selector Geoff Miller said.
“Chris’ absence, in conjunction with what appears to be a minor injury concern with Jimmy Anderson, has led to a call-up for Graham Onions as precautionary bowling cover.
“We are hopeful that Jimmy will overcome this niggle by Thursday, but more time is required before a decision on his availability can be made conclusively.
“Steven Finn is obviously in the squad and he is now joined by Graham Onions, who has been in good form for Durham since returning from a back injury at the start of the season.”
Onions, 28, has not played a Test match since new year 2010, largely because of a long-term and once career-threatening back injury.
Tremlett was named in England’s initial 13-man squad for the final match of the series, having missed both the second and third Tests at Trent Bridge and then Edgbaston – where his team-mates trounced India to take their country to the top of the International Cricket Council rankings for the first time.
But the Surrey fast bowler has succumbed again to the same back problem which ruled him out at Nottingham and then Birmingham.
Anderson has experienced tightness in his right quadriceps, and an England and Wales Cricket Board statement reported that his condition will “continue to be monitored over the next 48 hours”.
