Matthew Fisher out for four weeks with "stress reaction" in blow ahead of England Test summer

Fisher suffered a "stress reaction" in his back, which ruled him out of Yorkshire's recent LV= Insurance County Championship game against Northamptonshire

Matthew Fisher is facing four weeks out of action through injury, in a major blow to his England aspirations this summer.

Fisher has suffered a "stress reaction" in his back, which ruled him out of Yorkshire's recent LV= Insurance County Championship game against Northamptonshire.

And the seamer, who made his Test debut against West Indies on the tour of the Caribbean in March, may now remain on the sidelines for as long as a month.

Yorkshire head coach Ottis Gibson said: "Matt's had, it's not a stress fracture, a stress reaction. The last time I spoke to the medical team they said he'd be out for about four weeks."

Fisher's hopes of remaining in contention for a place in the England squad for the first Test of the summer - against New Zealand at Lord's from June 2 - would have hinged on a series of impressive performances for his county in the domestic red-ball competition.

^{Matthew Fisher made his England debut in the Caribbean [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

He is one of several English bowlers struggling with fitness problems.

Jofra Archer is unlikely to play red-ball cricket this summer as he returns from elbow surgery, Chris Woakes continues to recover from knee and shoulder issues, Mark Wood is not expected back until the Vitality Blast in late May after an operation on his elbow, Olly Stone is only targeting white-ball cricket this year as he tries to come back from a series of stress fractures, and Ollie Robinson has missed every Sussex fixture so far this term after suffering back spasms in Australia and the Caribbean. 

It is not an ideal set of circumstances for whoever takes on the England captaincy and head coach positions in time for the visit of New Zealand.

Thankfully, Jimmy Anderson emerged through his first run-out of the Championship term unscathed, while Stuart Broad is expected to feature in the next three Nottinghamshire fixtures as he cranks up his preparation for the Test summer.

Yorkshire, meanwhile, are hoping to have Joe Root available for the trip to Essex in early May. Root has been resting following his winter exertions with England.

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