Roland-Jones suffers Ashes blow

England seamer Toby Roland-Jones has sustained a stress fracture to his back that could see him miss the Ashes tour.

Roland-Jones impressed in the English summer with brilliant displays against South Africa and a solid showing against the West Indies.

He started Middlesex’s clash with Lancashire this week but was unable to complete the match as he was suffering from discomfort in his lower back.

Middlesex released a statement that read: “Middlesex Cricket are extremely disappointed to announce that the result of the medical scan which Toby undertook yesterday (Thursday) has revealed that he has a stress fracture in his L5 vertebra (lower back), which will mean that he will take no further part in the domestic season for Middlesex.”

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Roland-Jones’ County teammate Steve Finn made a strong case for an Ashes recall by taking 8/79 in Lancashire’s second innings but he will have to beat out Nottinghamshire quick Jake Ball.

England have opted to rest both James Anderson and Stuart Broad until the Ashes in a bid to keep their senior pacemen fit for their Ashes defence having already lost Mark Wood earlie this season.

Broad picked up a niggle during the Lord’s Test against the West Indies when he slipped on some stairs.

 

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