Ashes 2017-18: England bowler Steven Finn ruled out of tour with injury

Steven FinnImage source, Huw Evans picture agency
Image caption,

Finn missed England training on Friday, having injured his knee the day before

Steven Finn has been ruled out of England's Ashes tour after scans showed he has torn his left knee cartilage.

The pace bowler, 28, who was added to the squad following Ben Stokes' arrest, was injured in training on Thursday.

He will return to the UK in the next 48 hours to meet with specialists and decide whether he requires surgery.

Surrey all-rounder Tom Curran, who is uncapped in Tests but has made one ODI and three T20 appearances for England, has been named as his replacement.

Curran, 22, made his international debut against South Africa in July, taking 3-33 in England's three-run loss.

He has taken 171 first-class wickets for Surrey at an average of 29.14, and has scored five half-centuries in 51 matches.

England's first Test against Australia begins in Brisbane on 23 November.

Before that, the tourists play two warm-up matches against a Cricket Australia XI, the first of which is on Wednesday.

Speaking to BBC Sport before the result of Finn's scan was revealed, coach Trevor Bayliss had positive news about Moeen Ali's fitness.

Off-spinning all-rounder Moeen, 30, missed training on Friday with a side injury, but Bayliss said he "will be fine".

He added Moeen would play the final warm-up next week in Townsville.

Mason Crane will again deputise for Moeen in Wednesday's warm-up game, which will be a day-night match as England prepare for the floodlit Test at the Adelaide Oval next month.

Stuart Broad is rested with Jake Ball and Craig Overton given the chance to press their claims for an Ashes start.

Dawid Malan is preferred to Gary Ballance at five with James Vince continuing at three.

'He was having a lie-in'

Curran originally missed his call from England selector James Whitaker having slept in, according to Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart.

"He was having a lie-in because he was in the second gym session at the Oval today," the former England captain told BBC Radio 5 live.

"So I then rang him. I said to him that you've got to ring James Whitaker, so he probably put two and two together and worked it out.

"I think he yawned and took the sleep out of his eyes and then realised what he's doing.

"It's a brilliant moment, to be picked for England for anything is great but to go on an Ashes tour is something really special."

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