Gus Atkinson added to concerns over England's pace bowling by suffering a concussion during Surrey's County Championship match against Nottinghamshire. In the week England could name their squad for the first Test against New Zealand, Atkinson was twice struck on the head by international team-mate Josh Tongue. Batting in Surrey's first innings at Trent Bridge, Atkinson was hit in successive Tongue overs - with the second blow particularly nasty. The 28-year-old was assessed on both occasions and batted on.
Already the quickest scoring team in Test cricket, England will hit Australia with their fastest bowling attack for a generation perhaps all time after announcing their 16-man squad for this winter's Ashes assault. A late curveball from Rob Key's panel is the inclusion of Surrey's Will Jacks, offering an attacking option with the bat and serving as the reserve spinner to Shoaib Bashir.