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Justin Chadwick

England lose paceman ahead of ODI series Down Under

England have suffered a blow with key paceman Josh Tongue out of the ODI series in Australia. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

England paceman Josh Tongue has been ruled out of the white-ball tour of Australia after being cut down by a toe injury.

Tongue arrived in Perth earlier this week ahead of England's three-match ODI and five-match T20 series against Australia.

The 28-year-old, who was only named for the ODI component of the tour, didn't feature in England's 92-run practice match win over Western Australia on Saturday.

Just hours after the match finished, England confirmed Tongue's tour was over before it even began, with a big left-toe injury the problem.

Tongue, who has played 15 Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is, will return to England to get his injury further assessed, with no timeline put on his return as yet. 

Another player who didn't feature in the win over WA was rising star Jacob Bethell, who hasn't played since July due to a knee injury.

Bethell
England's Jacob Bethell is battling back from injury as he seeks to play in the ODI series. (AP PHOTO)

Bethell is seen as only an outside chance to be named for the ODI series opener at Optus Stadium next Friday.

"He's a very strong leader within our group across all formats, and he's still working his way back from injury," England coach Brendon McCullum said of Bethell. 

"We'll keep assessing him every day, and we'll see where we land.

"He's another good talent to have sitting on the sidelines at the moment, and we'll work it out once we get into that first game."

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