England rocked as Jack Leach ruled out of Ashes with stress fracture of back

England’s Ashes preparations have been rocked after spinner Jack Leach was ruled out of the series with a stress fracture of the back.

Leach claimed four scalps during England’s 10-wicket victory over Ireland at Lord’s this week, but developed low back symptoms during the match.

A subsequent scan on Sunday revealed a stress fracture in the lumbar region of the spine, which will rule him out of all five Ashes Tests. “Spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the LV Insurance men’s Ashes series with a low back (lumbar) stress fracture,” an England statement said.

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

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