England pacer Steven Finn is ruled out of the upcoming Ashes after sustaining a knee injury. The fast bowler suffered the injury while batting in the nest during England’ training session on the very first day. He had been given an injection a couple of days ago, but it has got more severe and had been diagnosed as torn cartilage in his left knee.
Finn will fly to England in the next 48 hours to seek advice from a knee specialist to analyze the fact that whether he needs surgery. The decision on Finn’s possible replacements hasn’t been named yet but the likes of Tom Curran. Tom Helm and Liam Plunkett are the possible favorites to replace Finn. Curran and Helm haven’t yet played Test cricket but was named in the Lions squad that is scheduled to arrive in Brisbane on November 15. As per reports speedster Mark Wood hasn’t yet recovered fully and cannot be considered for selection.
Finn who was sent home early from the 2013-14 Australia tour missed a golden opportunity to prove a point. He was also dropped midway from the squad during the 2010-11 Ashes. It was an opportunity for redemption, but it didn’t work out that way for Finn.
The visitors are already without Ben Stokes who is still awaiting a police investigation after an alleged road side brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol. Meanwhile, Toby-Roland Jones has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back.
Meanwhile, the English team practiced with the pink Kookaburra at the Adelaide ahead of their first tour match starting on Wednesday. The team management has decided to limit the workload of the players. As a result, Stuart Broad will miss the first tour game, and James Anderson will miss the 2nd practice game in Townsville. Both are fully fit and bowled with venom at the nets.
England team to play Cricket Australia XI: 1. Alastair Cook 2. Mark Stoneman 3. James Vince 4. Joe Root (capt) 5. Dawid Malan 6. Jonny Bairstow (wk) 7. Chris Woakes 8. Jamie Overton 9. Jake Ball 10. Mason Crane 11. James Anderson
