After a further examination of his injured right knee, Darren Gough has been ruled out of all cricket for the rest of the summer. He visited a specialist in Sheffield earlier this week and, as a result, he is to undergo a third operation that, it is hoped, will finally clear up the problem.

However, it means that Gough is definitely out of the current Test series against India, as well as the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka in September. Gough was named in the original selection and now his replacement will have to be named by Thursday next week.

Gough said: "This is a setback for me and it's going to be very disappointing to miss so much cricket, but I know that I can come back from this and at least I now have 11 weeks to concentrate on getting myself ready to have one last crack at the Australians in the Ashes this winter."

Gough has been missing from England's Test attack since last summer's final match against Australia at the Oval and since first sustaining the injury during the last one-day international against New Zealand in Dunedin, he has played in only four one-day internationals.

England's chairman of selectors David Graveney said Gough's injury was a blow for both the player and the national side.

"He wants to go to Australia and be part of the World Cup and that is the goal for everyone," he told Sky Sports News.

"I don't think our side are the only ones have serious injuries but it underlines the volume of cricket our guys have to play. They cannot possibly play all their international and domestic cricket and something has to give."

Graveney emphasised that he hopes both Gough and Andrew Caddick will return to the England fold, their injuries had opened the door to less experienced bowlers.

"We need them back in the team but at this moment in time it gives us an idea of what to expect in the future," said Graveney. "Take someone like Matthew Hoggard, who is in the formative stages of his career. He suddenly finds himself leading the attack and what a fantastic job he has done in last two games.

"In a perfect world you want everyone to be available but if it had not been for the injuries to Caddick or Gough, Simon Jones or Steve Harmison may not have played."

Nevertheless, it will be a major blow for England if Gough does not regain full fitness in time for the Ashes tour to Australia and the World Cup after that.

© CricInfo