Jack Leach ruled of The Ashes with back stress fracture

With less than two weeks to go for The Ashes, England have been dealt with a devastating blow as lead spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the entirety of the series with a low back (lumbar) stress fracture.

Leach played in the one-off Test against Ireland, and returned match figures of 4/125, but it is believed that the 31-year-old picked up the injury in the very same encounter that lasted three days. This was confirmed by the ECB, who in an official statement confirmed the news, and stated that a replacement for Leach will be announced in due course.

“The 31-year-old Somerset slow-left-armer developed low back symptoms during England’s LV= Insurance Test 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, which gets underway at Edgbaston on Friday 16 June. 

“England will announce a replacement for the Ashes series in due course.”

Leach’s injury is a telling blow for England. The left-arm spinner has been an integral part of the side in the Baz-Stokes era, having featured in each of the team’s previous 13 Tests. He’s taken 45 wickets in this period and last year, against New Zealand in Leeds, picked up his maiden 10-fer in Tests.