England's Ashes preparations take a major hit; star spinner ruled out due to injury

England (Source: Twitter)

With less than two weeks to go before the start of the Ashes Test, star spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the series due to injury, a major blow for England. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Sunday confirmed Leach's absence from the five-match Test series owing to a stress fracture in his back.

The 31-year-old experienced low back pain during England's one-off Test triumph over Ireland at Lord's on Saturday, and scans revealed a stress fracture. The left-arm spinner took four wickets during England's 10-wicket win and will be a crucial loss for his side when they take on Australia in a high-voltage clash.

England's preparations for the Ashes have suffered a major setback with speedster Jofra Archer also ruled out due to injury ahead of the first Test at Edgbaston on Friday 16 June. The country's cricket board announced the 16-man squad for the first two Ashes Tests on Saturday, and now a change has to be made by announcing Leach's replacement.

"The 31-year-old Somerset slow left-armer developed low back symptoms during England’s victory over Ireland on Saturday. A scan on Sunday in London has revealed a stress fracture, which will keep him out of the forthcoming Ashes Test series. England will announce a replacement for the Ashes series in due course," ECB said in a statement.

I may go with Rehan Ahmed: Monty Panesar suggests Leach's replacement

It would be difficult for the board to find a suitable replacement for Leach, who has taken 124 wickets at an average of 34.18 in 35 Tests for England. Former England spinner Monty Panesar feels this is a big setback as England's plans were centred around the Somerset player.

"This is a massive blow for England because their plans were centred around Leach, who has been bowling superbly well over the last winter. He's been absolutely brilliant under the leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes," Panesar told Sky Sports News.

"I think I may go with Rehan Ahmed, that leg-spin option, and we have got Root to bowl off-spin. It's vital for England to have a spinner that is ready, especially in the back end of Test matches where the pitch will turn. England were thinking about Leach being that sort of guy who controlled one side of the wicket and then the other side the bowlers can kind of rotate and be a bit more attacking," he added.