Fast bowler Tymal Mills may be forced to give up first-class cricket after reportedly being diagnosed with a congenital back condition.

The 22-year-old, from Brandon, who joined Sussex on a two-year deal over the winter, broke down in the early part of the season and has learned he has a narrow spinal cord which could – in a worst-case scenario – cause serious mobility issues if he continues to bowl.

“I have accepted that I might not have a future in first-class cricket,” Mills, tipped as a future England international, told www.cricinfo.com. “It is absolutely gutting and I had a very difficult 48 hours when I first heard the news.

“I haven’t completely given up on the dream of playing Test cricket but, realistically, it looks as if my future may be in the shorter formats. I still want to play 50-over and T20 cricket.”

Sussex have already confirmed Mills, who can bowl in excess of 90mph, will play no first-class cricket for a couple of months.

He has already shown his ability in the 20-over format taking three wickets during Sussex’s NatWest T20 Blast victory over Gloucestershire on Sunday.

“I just hope nobody portrays me as a mercenary,” he added. “This isn’t a case of me not wanting to bowl; it’s a case of me having a medical condition would could affect my future. It’s all been pretty hard to take.”

The former Mildenhall College pupil made a fresh start in the winter when he left Essex and opted to try and find his feet on the south coast.

He toured Sri Lanka at the start of 2014, having shadowed the England senior side during the unsuccessful Ashes tour during the winter.

The Brandon youngster subsequently signed a two-year deal with LV County Championship Division One side Sussex in a bid to take the next step in his career.