England has called up uncapped fast-bowler George Garton as a cover for Jake Ball ahead of the Ashes, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Friday (November 10).
Ball injured his ankle while bowling in the warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI on Thursday. The right-arm pacer was just in his fourth over when he bundled over during his delivery stride and immediately left the field. Later, scans confirmed ligament damage, sidelining the pacer for at least a week.
And with the injury crisis further deteriorating, England has called up the uncapped Sussex youngster who was due to fly to Australia with England Lions later this month but will now join the senior squad early for the final warm-up match in Townsville.
“Jake Ball is a doubt for England’s next warm-up match, starting in Townsville on Wednesday, November 15, after scans revealed he had sustained a right ankle ligament strain during day two of the four-day tour match against a Cricket Australia XI at the Adelaide Oval,” a statement from ECB read.
“The England medical team will assess the injury over the next seven days, and he will play no further part in the Adelaide match. National selectors have called up England Lions and Sussex left-arm seamer George Garton as cover in Townsville for the final warm-up match before the first Test, which gets underway at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Thursday, November 23. He will then rejoin the Lions party for their camp in Brisbane and Perth,” it added.
Injuries have marred the buildup to the five-Test series for England. Fast-bowler Steven Finn has already been ruled out of the series with a knee injury while all-rounder Moeen Ali is still recovering from the side strain.
On the other hand, Toby Roland-Jones could not even make it to the squad due to a stress-fracture while Ben Stokes is also not included because of the ongoing investigation due to the brawl he was involved in a few weeks back.
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