Jack Leach ruled out of England's Ashes series against Australia with stress fracture in back

England's mission to regain the Ashes from Australia this summer just got harder after the confirmation that a stress fracture in his back will keep Jack Leach out of the squad. Leach, who has been a vital part of the attack since the promotion of Ben Stokes to the captaincy, began suffering injury symptoms during last week's Test victory over Ireland at Lord's. Scans on Sunday confirmed the extent of the injury.

Ad CricketEngland beat Ireland by 10 wickets in only Test at Lord's after Adair and McBrine rearguard20 HOURS AGO Leach has been a major contributor during the Stokes era, only twice failing to take at least one wicket in an innings over those 13 Tests. He has also produced some monstrous performances, with five-fors against New Zealand and West Indies particularly devastating. Leach was only named in England's 16-member squad for the summer series on Saturday, and the Ashes hosts must now scramble to find a solution.

The first Test gets underway at Edgbaston on June 16, little more than two weeks away, meaning that there is little time for bedding in any sort of unconventional choice. That could lead England to opt for an additional pacer, leaning on former captain Joe Root's part-time off-spin bowling. However, with Stokes' ability to bowl also unclear at this stage, the importance of a full-time spinner in the squad is evident.

The tourists boast four of the ICC's top seven ranked Test batsmen, underlining the importance of England's bowling attack. Ollie Pope breaks record for quickest Test double hundred to be made in England at Lord’s England complete routine Test victory over Ireland despite rearguard heroics from the tourists England remain the world's No. 3 ranked Test side, despite having won four and