England suffer huge Ashes blow as Jack Leach ruled out of entire series

04 June 2023 , 16:16

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Jack Leach will miss the Ashes (Image: Getty Images)

England spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the Ashes after suffering a stress fracture of the back in their win over Ireland.

In a statement, the ECB said Leach "developed low back symptoms" while bowling on the final day of the Ireland Test and a subsequent scan revealed he had suffered a lumbar stress fracture and will miss the entirety of the Ashes.

Leach had been named in England's squad for the first two Tests against Australia, but a replacement will now be named in due course. It is yet another major injury blow England have suffered ahead of the series.

Fast bowler Jofra Archer will also miss the Ashes after a recurrence of the stress fracture in his right elbow, while James Anderson and Ollie Robinson both picked up knocks that saw them rested for the Ireland Test.

Olly Stone suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Nottinghamshire last month that means he will miss at least the first Ashes Test, while Jamie Overton is currently only playing as a batter for Surrey after also suffering a stress fracture of the back.

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There have also been doubts about whether all-rounder Ben Stokes will be able to bowl given the knee injury he has been nursing since last year, but the England captain insists he will be ready to bowl when the Ashes starts at Edgbaston on June 16.

Leach suffered a stress fracture of the back in England's win over Ireland (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

"I'm building myself up and bowling in the warm-up before the start of play was a first step," Stokes said. "I'm happy with it, so I'll just keep building it up now before Edgbaston. I am definitely on course to bowl in the first Test."

As far as potential replacements for Leach, 18-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will be among the candidates after picking up a five-wicket haul on debut against Pakistan over the winter. Other spinners who have played Test cricket since Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over include all-rounder Will Jacks, who also picked up a five-wicket haul against Pakistan, and Matt Parkinson, who made his debut against New Zealand last year as a concussion replacement for Leach.

England could also try and tempt Moeen Ali back out of retirement or decide against playing a specialist spinner altogether with Joe Root capable of bowling some useful off spin.

Matthew Cooper