England batsman Ollie Pope has been ruled out for up to four months after dislocating his left shoulder during the third Test against Pakistan earlier this week.
The Surrey star picked up the injury while fielding on the boundary on day four and did not return to the field for the remainder of the match. An MRI scan in London on Wednesday confirmed the extent of the injury and Pope will undergo surgery in the coming weeks.
He also suffered a dislocation of the same shoulder while playing for Surrey against Essex in the Royal London One Day Cup last season, which saw him miss much of the county season and ruined any chance of being selected for the Ashes.
It is hoped that the 22-year-old will be fit in time to take part in the scheduled tours of Sri Lanka and India this winter.
Having made his maiden Test hundred during the tour of South Africa earlier this year, Pope has cemented himself as a key part of England’s batting line-up under Chris Silverwood this summer, and averages just shy of 38 in his fledgling Test career.
