Australia's James Pattinson suffers lower back stress; out of Ashes series

Australia have suffered a sizeable setback ahead of the Ashes after it was revealed James Pattinson will miss the series due to a reaggravation of a lower back stress fracture

Australia have suffered a sizeable setback ahead of the Ashes after it was revealed James Pattinson will miss the series due to a reaggravation of a lower back stress fracture. Pattinson had been a doubt for the series opener at the Gabba on November 23 after missing the tours of Bangladesh and India because of back problems but scans have confirmed a serious injury and he will now take an indefinite break from bowling.

James Pattinson

The news dashes the potential of Australia fielding Pattinson alongside Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood as part of a fearsome four-pronged pace attack. "Regular scans and recent imaging has confirmed that James has begun to reaggravate his previous lower back stress fracture," said Alex Kountouris, Cricket Australia's sports science and sports medicine manager.

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