Injured Graham Onions will miss the Test series against Bangladesh but captain Alastair Cook is confident England will cope even though there are still fitnesss doubts over fellow seamer Stuart Broad.
Onions hurt his back in training last week preparing for the two Tests, which begin in Chittagong tomorrow, and missed the three-day warm-up game against Bangladesh A.
The Durham fast bowler was yesterday ruled out of the First Test but with the problem showing no signs of improving he has now been ordered home to recover.
England are not expected to name a replacement for Onions but his absence comes with Broad having only returning to training yesterday after suffering back spasms.
Cook, who would almost certainly have handed Onions the new ball had he been available, sympathised with the seamer.
"I'm desperately disappointed for him," said Cook ahead of his first match in charge of the five-day side. "He was a huge part of our plans and he still is, obviously, because of the way he bowled in South Africa.
"He was unlucky not to take more wickets than he did there because he bowled really well.
"I was expecting him to come to these conditions and bowl really well too."
Cook's attack now looks likely to comprise of both spinners plus one of Tim Bresnan or Steve Finn alongside Broad, providing he is fit.
The skipper added: "These things happen and luckily we've got the strength in depth in our seam-bowling unit to be able to cope."
