TEARS FOR GRAHAM ONIONS

Onions, who has not been able to shake off a back injury he suffered bowling in the nets, becomes the second fast-bowling casualty of the tour following Ryan Sidebottom.

It is a big blow for Onions, who was desperate to make an impact having been harshly dropped for the final Test in South Africa, a decision he described as being “a kick in the teeth”.

Onions said: “It’s frustrating. Whenever you come on tour – and especially because this is just my second tour – you are always looking to make an impression.

“I’m not exactly sure what the problem is because I had an MRI scan and nothing came up on that. Hopefully it’s just a case of having about a week’s complete rest.”

Captain Alastair Cook said: “It’s disappointing. He was a huge part of our plans and still is with the way he bowled in South Africa.

“It does look like a short-term injury, but these matches come so quickly out here and he has had no proper bowling on this tour, so we did not see how he could be ready for the second Test next week. That is why there is no point in him staying.”