Brydon Carse ruled out of IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad because of a hand injury

The IPL final is on 31 May, four days before the series opener against the Black Caps at Lord’s.

It would be difficult for any pace bowler who remains at the IPL until the closing stages of the competition to switch to the workload of Test cricket at such short notice. Jofra Archer, currently playing for Rajasthan Royals, could be in this situation.

If Carse’s injury is not too severe, he could be available for the first Test, though he too would have to boost his loads in order to be match fit.

It seems likely there will be pace-bowling spots up for grabs in the England squad, probably alongside Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.

Matthew Fisher was called into the Ashes squad and would be one contender, alongside Surrey team-mate Tom Lawes. Sonny Baker has a central contract and has made a good start to the season with Hampshire.

Like Lawes, Hampshire’s Eddie Jack and Lancashire’s Mitchell Stanley have England development deals and were with the Lions in Australia during the winter.

Stanley, 25, played only his third first-class match in Lancashire’s win against Derbyshire, yet has been tipped as a future England bowler by his county captain James Anderson.

Ollie Robinson was discarded by England more than two years ago, but has taken 10 wickets in captaining Sussex to two wins from two at the start of the season. The 32-year-old has 76 wickets from his 20 Tests at an average under 23.

Carse has not played any cricket since the fifth Test of England’s 4-1 Ashes series defeat. He has been replaced in the Sunrisers squad by Sri Lankan Dilshan Madushanka.