Just hours after announcing the squad for Ashes 2023, England suffered a huge setback. England’s Ashes preparations have been thrown into disarray as spinner Jack Leach was ruled out with a stress fracture in his back. His replacement is yet to be announced, but this is a big blow for the English side ahead of the big series.
Leach took four wickets in England’s 10-wicket win over Ireland at Lord’s this week, although he suffered from low back pain during the game.
A follow-up scan on Sunday found a stress fracture in the lumbar region of the spine, ruling him out of the entire Ashes series. In his absence, England might call up Dom Bess to the side.
England Statement said
“Spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the LV Insurance Men’s Ashes series with a low back (lumbar) stress fracture,” an England statement said. “England will announce a replacement for the Ashes series in due course.”
Fast bowler Jofra Archer will also miss the Ashes due to a stress fracture in his right elbow, while James Anderson and Ollie Robinson were also rested for the Ireland Test.
Olly Stone had a hamstring injury when playing for Nottinghamshire last month, meaning he will miss at least the first Ashes Test, while Jamie Overton is now only playing as a batsman for Surrey after suffering a back stress fracture.
There has also been speculation about whether all-rounder Ben Stokes will be able to bowl due to a knee ailment he has been nursing since last year Joe Root maintains he will be ready to bowl when the Ashes begin on June 16 in Edgbaston.
England had earlier announced a squad for the Ashes.
England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Root, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Jack Leach, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Dan Lawrence, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Josh Tongue.
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