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Sunk Stone adds to England's injury troubles

Recent Test debutant ruled out for two weeks as the hosts' Ashes injury toll mounts

England's already depleted pace stocks have taken another hit with express fast bowler Olly Stone ruled out of the second Test with a back injury.

Stone is set to be sidelined for two weeks which rules him out of contention for the second Ashes Test at Lord's starting next Wednesday.

The right-armer was a candidate to replace injured seamer James Anderson, though he was never likely to push in front of World Cup hero Jofra Archer, who made a successful return to red-ball cricket on Tuesday with 6-27 in a second XI game for Sussex.

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It means England are now without Anderson, Stone and Mark Wood – who is battling side and knee injuries – for at least the second Test having lost the series opener at Edgbaston by 251 runs.

Stone played against Ireland last month and would have come into the selection conversation for a spot at Lord's next week had he been fully fit.

But Paul Farbrace, director of sport at Stone's county side Warwickshire, revealed the 25-year-old has hurt his lower back while training at Edgbaston yesterday.

The injury is a recurrence of the stress fracture that ruled him out of England's tour of the Caribbean earlier this this year.

"It’s really disappointing for Olly that he’s been ruled out of action for such an important two weeks of cricket because of a reoccurrence of his back injury," Farbrace said on Warwickshire's website.

"At the moment there’s a bit of inflammation, but he will undergo a scan later this afternoon so that we know the full course of treatment that he can undertake with the club’s medical team and with the support of the ECB.

"In the meantime, he needs to rest up before he can get his body strong again and ready to deal with the demands of being a fast bowler."

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Allrounder Sam Curran could also come into the mix to play at Lord's.

Anderson meanwhile is hopeful of returning for the back end of the Ashes.

The veteran quick suffered a fresh calf injury after bowling just four overs in Birmingham and has officially been ruled out of the second Test at Edgbaston.

But with Test tours to New Zealand and South Africa on the horizon, the 37-year-old is optimistic of featuring again in the Ashes and in England's upcoming overseas campaigns.

"I'm pretty confident I can get over this, I want to keep going," Anderson told The Sun.

"The plan is to get back and play some part in the Ashes but, if that doesn't work out, the winter (tours to New Zealand and South Africa) is absolutely on my radar.

"I'm sure there will come a point where other bowlers either get injured or need a rest.

"If one needs to be replaced, it might work out well if I can get myself fit and help towards the end of the series.

"I'm at the age now when there's a chance injuries will happen more

"It's something I've got to prepare for. But I’m very fortunate – I've been lucky with having so few throughout my career."

 

While the decision to play Anderson - who had not played a match in the month leading up to the first Test as he recovered from a low-grade calf tear - was risky, captain Joe Root said Anderson passed every fitness test and was unanimously chosen to play.

Anderson stressed that he's returned from injury in the past without playing a warm-up game to prepare or prove his fitness.

"There's been some talk I shouldn't have been chosen at Edgbaston last week without first playing another game to prove my fitness following the torn calf muscle I suffered on July 2," he said.

"But I disagree with that.

"In my head, I was fit to play an Ashes Test.

"I've played in Test matches before after injury without first playing a county game or warm-up of some sort."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia beat England by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval