Stiff upper lip for England as another paceman goes down
England’s Ashes squad are maintaining brave faces as they await a firm diagnosis on yet another injury to a fast bowler.
Jake Ball after rolling his ankle at Adelaide Oval. Photo: David Mariuz / AAP
Paceman Jake Ball sprained an ankle bowling against a Cricket Australia XI in a tour game yesterday.
Ball twisted his right ankle when in his delivery stride in the opening session and limped from Adelaide Oval.
Ball’s injury comes just days after England sent home fellow quick Steven Finn because of a knee injury.
The tourists are resigned to be without another fast bowling option, allrounder Ben Stokes, when the first Test against Australia starts on November 23.
Stokes remains in England pending the outcome of a police investigation into his role in a street fight outside a Bristol nightclub in September.
Seamer Tom Curran is due to arrive today to bolster England’s fast bowling ranks.
England will resume against the CA XI on Friday at 0-5 in their second innings, leading by 65 runs in the day-night fixture, with Ball’s status expected to be clearer during the day.
But allrounder Chris Woakes maintains the touring camp aren’t overly worried at their thinning pace ranks.
“I don’t think it’s a concern, we have got a good (fast bowling) unit in the dressing room that are willing to put in the hard yards,” Woakes said.
“We have got a great unit, I think we can cause some problems out here with what we have got.”
Woakes said Ball reported instant pain after his awkward fall.
“He said it (his ankle) rolled underneath him… he just said it was quite sore,” Woakes said.
“He has been bowling nicely on this trip so far.
“So when you see a fellow fast bowler go off the field, particularly the way he did it, falling under himself, it’s quite frustrating for himself and I guess us as a team.”
-AAP
