England were given another injury scare on Thursday ahead of the Ashes when pacer Jake Ball collapsed on the pitch and sprained his ankle during the warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI at the Adelaide Oval.
Ball lost his footing and turned his right ankle during his delivery stride while attempting to bowl the fourth ball in his fifth over of the day.
Joe Root’s men had been dealt a severe blow on Tuesday when another pacer, Steve Finn, was sent home following some serious knee damage.
Finn is scheduled to see a specialist in London to assess whether the Middlesex pacer would require surgery on his knee. Tom Curran, meanwhile, is scheduled to replace Finn and is expected join the touring party on Friday.
With their fast-bowling options fast dwindling, the visitors will be hoping that Ball’s injury is not threatening with the first Ashes Test looming large on the horizon.
All-rounder Moeen Ali is also nursing an injury after being troubled by soreness in his left side and was left out of England’s four-day match against the Cricket Australia XI.
Moeen Ali is carry an injury while Steve Finn’s Ashes tour is over.
England’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes meanwhile remains suspended with his replacement Finn now out of the tour himself.
The tourists ended day two at 5-0 after Cricket Australia had declared their first innings at 233-9 with openers Mark Stoneman and Alastair Cook successfully negotiating the five overs before the end of the day’s play.
Root’s men had earlier put on 293 runs in their first innings. England’s fielding coach Paul Collingwood also made an appearance as a substitute fielder on Thursday, albeit for one over only as England stretched their resources to the maximum.
The first Ashes Test is set to begin at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 23.
