WESTLEY OUT OF LIONS TOUR AND COULD FACE FINGER SURGERY

Essex batsman sustained the injury during a game in Queensland this week

Tom Westley is facing the prospect of surgery after England Lions confirmed he will be leaving the tour to Australia due to a finger injury.

Westley sustained the problem in the field during the Lions’ game against a Queensland Select side at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Tuesday.

And the damage is enough for the England medical staff to send him home.

Westley will fly back to the UK on Wednesday for a scan, which will determine whether or not he goes under the knife.

The Essex batsman had been due to go in at number three for the Lions but an early diagnosis on the trouble digit - the middle finger of his left hand - has ruled him out of any further participation on the tour.

“Given what we suspect about the injury, we think it’s important to get Tom back to a specialist in Leeds as soon as possible to have a further scan and then for any surgery that’s necessary,” Ben Langley, the ECB’s lead physiotherapist, said.

Meanwhile, Paul Coughlin, who limped out of the game with a hip problem, has responded well to treatment and England say there are no plans for him to return home early at this stage.

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