Jack Leach ruled out of the Ashes with lower back stress fracture

England spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the 2023 Ashes after a scan revealed that he has a lower back (lumbar) stress fracture.

Leach has been one of just five ever-presents for England under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, taking 45 wickets across 13 Tests – no bowler has more wickets for England since Stokes became captain.

Since Stokes took over the captaincy last year, Leach is the only England bowler to take more than one five-wicket haul, doing so on three occasions. The Somerset bowler has bowled 179 more overs than anyone else under Stokes’ leadership.