England’s Ashes preparations were dealt a blow on Sunday as frontline spinner Jack Leach was ruled out of the series due to a lower back stress fracture.
The 31-year-old developed the injury as England wrapped up victory in a lone Test against Ireland on Saturday.
“A scan on Sunday in London has revealed a stress fracture, which will keep him out of the forthcoming Ashes Test series,” the ECB said in a statement.
No replacement for the Somerset left-armer has been announced, but Leach’s absence leaves a big gap to fill for the selectors for the showdown against Australia.
The first Test of the Ashes gets underway on 16 June at Edgbaston.
© Agence France-Presse
