Finn ruled out of Ashes series with knee injury

England's Magellen Ashes preparations have taken another hit after confirming unpredictable fast bowler Steven Finn will fly home due to injury.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed Tuesday that Finn, a late call-up to the tourists' Test squad after vice-captain Ben Stokes was grounded due to his alleged involvement in a Bristol street brawl, has torn his left knee cartilage.

The towering quick will depart Australia for the United Kingdom to see a specialist and may require surgery after being hit in the nets while batting.

Finn sat out England's opening tour match against a Western Australia XI last weekend having been hit training at WA's Richardson Park on Thursday.

The 28-year-old, part of England's Ashes touring squads in 2010-11 and 2013-14, had received an injection into the troublesome knee, according to England coach Trevor Bayliss, but subsequent scans confirmed the bad news.

With the ECB today also confirming the uncertainty surrounding Stokes' situation remains no closer to being resolved, England could be forced to turn to third-choice seamers such as Liam Plunkett – who has signed up to play in a ten-over tournament in the UAE in December – Tom Curran and Tom Helm to replace Finn in the Ashes squad. 

The ECB said an announcement for Finn would be named in "due course". 

This Ashes tour had represented a chance at redemption for Finn, who didn't play a Test and was deemed "unselectable" on England's 2013-14 whitewash tour such were his struggles with the ball.

By contrast, the right-armer had snared 14 wickets in three Tests on the previous tour in '10-11, while also playing a part in home Ashes victories in 2013 and 2015.

"When you're a late call-up to the squad and have been out of selection for the past six months or so, you definitely do have a point to prove," Finn said last week before the injury.

"It's not ideal circumstances to come into the squad. Obviously, I was naturally disappointed to miss out in the first place.

"But whatever the circumstances that you get called up into a Test squad – especially an Ashes squad over here – it's a very proud moment.

"The Ashes is the pinnacle of what you can do as a Test match cricketer in an England shirt.

"Having that experience of winning that before and how good it felt and how much people got behind us when we did that, it's something we want to recreate."

Key allrounder Moeen Ali meanwhile continues to recover from a side injury, having last week been ruled out of England's tour matches at the WACA over the weekend and against the Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide beginning Wednesday.

He is expected to resume training ahead of England's final tour match in Townsville next week.

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21