England fast bowler Josh Tongue has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series in Australia with a toe injury.

Tongue, who was not due to be involved in the T20I leg as part of preparations for England’s Test tour of South Africa next month, will travel back to the UK to be assessed. He was reportedly carrying the problem with his big left toe in Pakistan, where he only played in the first of England’s four tri-series games.

A regular in the Test side over the last 12 months, Tongue made his ODI and T20I debuts this year and has formed part of a burgeoning all-formats high-pace group alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Sonny Baker.

England began their tour of Australia with victory in a 50-over warm-up game in Perth on Saturday. The three-match ODI series begins next Friday, to be followed by five T20Is.

Although England endured disappointment in Pakistan, losing their first three games to miss out on a spot in the tri-series final, they have been on an upward trajectory in ODIs, winning their three previous bilateral engagements in 2026.

They have been strengthened in Australia by the return of Archer, who was rested for the Pakistan tour after a hefty workload during the English summer and claimed 3 for 34 in England’s 92-run win at the WACA ground.

“He was good,” Brendon McCullum, England’s head coach, said. “I thought he was in good rhythm actually. I think he looked like he was charging in nicely. Obviously, swings the ball, he’s got skills at the top, in the middle, and at the death. So it was nice for him to get through some overs, get a couple of wickets as well.”

England also welcomed back Jacob Bethell after a knee injury that has kept him out since July. Bethell did not find his way into the XI, but has been named as one of two vice-captains for the tour, alongside Will Jacks.

“Jacob’s a very strong leader within our group across all formats, and he’s still working his way back from injury,” McCullum said. “We’ll keep assessing him every day, and we’ll see where we land. But you know, 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.”

England’s busy winter programme continues next month in South Africa, with Tongue’s availability for the three-Test series likely a key consideration. They are due to play a warm-up match in Durban in just under five weeks’ time, with the first Test starting in Johannesburg on December 17.