England’s Ashes preparations have been dealt a blow as frontline spinner Jack Leach was ruled out of the series due to a lower back stress fracture — prompting debate about what the hosts will do to replace him.
The 31-year-old developed the injury as England wrapped up victory in a lone Test against Ireland on Saturday.
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“A scan on Sunday in London has revealed a stress fracture, which will keep him out of the forthcoming Ashes Test series,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.
No replacement for the Somerset left-armer has been announced, but Leach’s absence leaves a big gap to fill for the selectors for the showdown against Australia.
He was the only spinner named in the 16-man squad on Saturday for the first two Tests and England’s depth in that area will now be tested.
England head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes could opt for an all-seam attack, with Joe Root providing a spin option.
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But that could be a risky approach with doubts over how many overs Stokes will be fit to bowl due to a knee injury.
Leach impressed during the winter tours of Pakistan and New Zealand to improve his Test tally to 124 wickets in 35 matches.
But teenager Rehan Ahmed also shone on his Test debut in Pakistan, taking seven wickets in one match at an average of less than 20 runs.
Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks is also in contention after he started the first two Tests in Pakistan, but former Australia skipper Michael Clarke believes England could, and should, make a bold bid to lure all-rounder Moeen Ali out of retirement.
Ali retired from Test cricket in late 2021. He has continued to play shorter formats for England and has flirted with the idea of a return to Tests but turned down another approach from coach Brendon McCullum last year.
“What do they do now? There’s some other England spinners playing in Country Cricket but geez, it’s a big step up from playing there to play Australia in the Ashes,” Clarke said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“I think they’ve got to consider Moeen Ali. I know he’s retired from Test cricket recently but I think because he offers bat, bowl, field makes some handy runs at the bottom of the order – very good fieldsman, I actually think it would be worth a conversation for this series to bring him back.
“I don’t know if he would do it. I don’t know if this is something he would consider.
“… it’s an Ashes series, you’ve got to forget what it looks like, forget what it sounds like and just work out – what is your best team to win this series? And if that means asking someone to come out of retirement then to me this is the time to do it.
“… let’s see what they do. But it’s a conversation I would be having.”
Clarke believes it would be too big a risk to give the job to teenager Ahmed.
“I just think starting your career is hard. Starting your career in an Ashes series? My god,” he said.
The first of the five-Test Ashes series gets underway on June 16 at Edgbaston.