Zak Crawley out of two India Tests after slipping on marble floor in Chennai and sustaining wrist injury

England batsman Crawley slipped and fell ahead of a practice session on Tuesday, sustaining a sprain to his right wrist

Zak Crawley will miss England's first two Tests against India in Chennai through injury.

Crawley slipped and fell ahead of a practice session on Tuesday, sustaining a sprain to his right wrist.

England confirmed the Kent batsman will be absent from the first two Tests on Thursday. There is some hope he will regain fitness in time to be considered for the day-night third Test in Ahmedabad, but with that match starting in less than three weeks he faces a race against time.

"Following the results of last night’s scan, England top-order batsman Zak Crawley has been ruled out of the first two Tests of the India versus England series," an England statement read.

"Scan results have confirmed that Crawley has jarred his right wrist, which has sprained the joint and led to local inflammation.

"The Kent player sustained the injury during England’s practice in Chennai on Tuesday when he slipped on the marble floor leaving the dressing rooms onto the field of play. 

"The England medical team will continue to assess his progress over the next few weeks."

England captain Joe Root - playing his 100th Test - may be compelled to move to No.3, where Crawley was expected to bat following the return to the squad of Rory Burns after his paternity leave.

Ben Stokes, who sat out the trip to Sri Lanka but is back with his teammates in Chennai, has also filled the No.3 role in the past, while Dan Lawrence - the Essex batsman who made 73 on debut in Galle last month - would be another option.

The first day of the first Test is scheduled for Friday. The series will be broadcast in the UK by Channel 4.

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