Pat Brown forced out of South Africa series with back injury
England quick Pat Brown has been ruled out of the South Africa series after suffering a lower-back stress fracture. Brown was set to replace veteran quick Dale Steyn at Melbourne Stars but now has returned home and will be working with the Worcestershire medical team for rehabilitation.
Although the visitors have come back from a huge defeat in Centurion to take a commanding lead in the second Test, it seems like the horrors of injury are not planning to leave the Three Lions anytime soon, having now lost young quick Pat Brown, who was set to feature in England’s limited over games against the Proteas.
Brown suffered a lower back stress fracture whilst training with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL). The young quick was all set to replace veteran pacer Dale Steyn in the Stars lineup but unfortunately had to return home having been withdrawn from all forms of cricket for the remainder of England's winter.
"The 21-year-old Worcestershire quick developed a recurrence of low back symptoms whilst in Australia preparing to play for the Melbourne Stars in the Australian Big Bash. A scan has revealed a partial stress fracture," the ECB stated in a release.
The ECB is yet to name a replacement for Brown, who was a part of both the T20I and OD squad against South Africa. The limited over-games, that will comprise 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is, will commence on February 4.