Will Jacks, who has undergone an appendix removal surgery, will not be considered for the Pakistan series, confirmed the ECB on Thursday. The recovery could see him miss out on action for a few weeks, putting his availability for the ODI series against Sri Lanka, set to begin on September 15, in uncertainty.
While he was not added to England’s squad for the first two Test games against Pakistan, Jacks was definitely among the reserves. The surgery will also see him sidelined from Surrey’s remaining County Championship season.
“Neither Sam Curran nor Will Jacks are in Surrey’s squad for today’s resumption of the Rothesay County Championship,” an ECB statement confirmed.
“Will Jacks is currently recovering having had a successful operation to remove his appendix. We will monitor his recovery and assess availability ahead of the Sri Lanka series.”
Jacks’ Test career
Will Jacks made his unexpected, last-minute Test debut against Pakistan in 2022. His white-ball form that same year had tagged more exuberance onto him than what is tolerated in the serene Test format. He bagged six wickets in his first ever innings on a flat Rawalpindi pitch.
And while he would not take any more wickets on that tour, he proved the point all the same. However, that point hardly earned him a ticket the next time England played in whites. The two Test games against Pakistan were the only ones he played until his return to the format in the Ashes last year, where he replaced the injured Mark Wood.
Back in the frame, then ruled out
Since then, Jacks has not played any Test match. While he was in consideration for the Pakistan Tests, the selectors decided they would rather test Dan Lawrence at No. 6 before him. In the aftermath of Ben Stokes’ retirement, if England go on to appraise every single all-rounder in the country, it should come as no surprise. Jacks, however, was one of the top contenders, besides Lawrence, Curran, and the likes of them.
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