AUSTRALIA have suffered a huge blow ahead of this winter’s Ashes, with James Pattinson ruled out of series with a broken back.
The fast bowler, 27, complained of back pain after returning Down Under following his spell at County Championship team Nottinghamshire during the summer.
A routine scan revealed a recurrence of a lower back stress fracture, meaning he will miss the full Ashes tour, beginning next month.
Pattinson had already been a doubt for the visit of Joe Root’s England after missing tours of Bangladesh and India with back problems.
But the scan officially ruled him out, crushing the Aussies‘ hopes of fielding a fearsome, four-pronged pace attack of Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Cricket Australia’s sports science and sports medicine manager revealed the news.
He said: “Regular scans and recent imaging has confirmed that James has begun to reaggravate his previous lower back stress fracture.
“As such, he has discontinued bowling as part of his recovery which unfortunately means that he will be unavailable for the beginning of the Sheffield Shield and subsequently the Ashes campaign.
“Whilst this is very disappointing that James has reaggravated this old injury, we are confident that he can recover from this and return to playing.”
Pattinson hasn’t bowled a single ball in competitive cricket since helping Nottinghamshire win the Royal London One-Day Cup final against Surrey on July 1.
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The Australian bowler had been in scintillating form too, having taken 32 County Championship wickets at an average of an incredible 12.06.
On missing the series, Pattinson said: "Obviously I am extremely disappointed with this setback after just getting back into a good run of playing cricket.
"I'm especially disappointed to miss out on the possibility to play in a home Ashes Series.
"Over the next few weeks I will discuss all available options available to me with medical staff, to work out the best plan to prevent this from happening again."
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