England fast bowler Saqib Mahmood is considering taking a break from red-ball cricket due to injury issues

After suffering a second stress fracture in as many years, England seamer Saqib Mahmood has revealed that he considered taking a break from red-ball cricket.

A serious back injury struck shortly after a promising first Test tour of the West Indies in March 2022. The problem recurred at the start of last summer, just as he was hoping to get into the Ashes frame.

During the long months of rehabilitation, he told Lancashire that he planned to step away from first-class cricket this season and ease himself back in as a T20 specialist.

But he has since changed his mind, inspired by the arrival of new head coach Dale Benkenstein and his own love of the longer format. Although he will miss this week's Vitality County Championship opener, he is working towards a full comeback next month.

“I was asking for a little bit of empathy from the guys. I just want to be on the park contributing, not on the sides. I don’t want to be chasing Test cricket at the start of the season, breaking down and then not be any good to anyone. I want to do it properly.”