Tremlett out of tour

Chris Tremlett ponders his impending return home with a side strain © Getty Images

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Chris Tremlett will return home from England’s tour of New Zealand after suffering a recurrence of a side strain during the final warm-up match before the first Test.

The Hampshire seamer was added to England’s Test squad last weekend after Steve Harmison complained of a lower back problem, and was given an opportunity to press his claims for a place in next week’s opening Test in Hamilton by being included in the current three-day match against a Selection XI.

But after bowling five overs during the rain-affected second day at the University Oval in Dunedin, Tremlett left the field complaining of discomfort in the same left side which he had scanned last weekend.

After deliberations among the medical staff it was agreed he would return home.

It adds to England’s injury concerns just five days before the first Test at Hamilton with Paul Collingwood being rested on Friday as a precaution against a right hamstring strain and Ryan Sidebottom still on the sidelines with the same problem.

Tremlett withdrew from the Pakistan tour of 2005 through injury and also had to have an injection in his shoulder to play in last summer’s final Test against India at the Brit Oval.

England, though, will at least be consoled by the response of both Harmison, who claimed 5-100, and Andrew Strauss, who hit an unbeaten 55 as the tourists finished the second day of their three-day match 15 ahead on 155 for three.