(Reuters) – England spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the five-match Ashes series against Australia due to a stress fracture in his back, the country’s cricket board (ECB) said on Sunday.
Leach, who took four wickets in England’s 10-wicket win over Ireland in a one-off test earlier this week, has been an ever-present in England’s squad under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, claiming 46 test wickets last year.
He was included in the 16-man squad for the first two Ashes tests announced by England on Saturday.
Leach’s injury is the latest major setback to England’s bowling department in the build-up to the series, with fast bowler Jofra Archer also ruled out.
“The 31-year-old Somerset slow left-armer developed low back symptoms during England’s victory over Ireland on Saturday,” the ECB said in a statement.
“A scan on Sunday in London has revealed a stress fracture, which will keep him out of the forthcoming Ashes test series … England will announce a replacement for the Ashes series in due course.”
The Ashes gets under way at Edgbaston on June 16.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Ken Ferris)
