Tremlett misses third Test

Chris Tremlett was this morning ruled out of the third Test against India at Edgbaston because of a back injury.England had already included Steven Finn in their squad as pace-bowling cover for Tremlett, who also missed the second-Test victory in Nottingham last week after suffering tightness in his hamstring and then back spasms.Tremlett was unable to practise both yesterday and today.The England and Wales Cricket Board duly confirmed he will not be available, and added he “will receive ongoing treatment ahead of the fourth Test Captain Andrew Strauss admitted the absence of Tremlett is a disappointment for the Surrey pace bowler.Strauss told “I’m sad for Chris; he has got a bit of a bulging disc in his back. It should be cleaning up sooner rather than later, but I’m going to have to monitor him in the coming days.“Tim Bresnan got a chance because Chris, who had done brilliantly, had got injured. Tim took his chance and now Ravi Bopara (who has been called up to replace Jonathan Trott has got the opportunity to do something similar in this Test.”England will take India`s number-one Test ranking if they win the match and take an unassailable 3-0 series lead.Strauss, though, knows a lot of work needs to be done before that can become a reality.The number one ranking is possible because of playing good cricket and we have to concentrate on that and not worry about the ranking,” he said.“We expect this to be a tough test, we`ve not had everything our own way. We`ve had to dig deep at times and I expect this to be similar.“India will be determined to play better and they have the quality in their ranks to do so.On the likely condition of the wicket, he added:We`ll look at the pitch in the morning. There`s a green tint on it but most of that will be taken away. Edgbaston has always been a result wicket.

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