The Ashes 2017-18: Moeen Ali a doubt for England’s First Ashes Test after being ruled out of warm-up games with a sore left side
Fast bowler Steven Finn also set to miss the practice games as England set to be without a wealth of star players in Brisbane
MOEEN ALI has been ruled out of England’s first two tour matches and is now a worry for the First Test against Australia.
Moeen is one of England’s most important players on the Ashes tour – especially with fellow all-rounder Ben Stokes still in limbo at home.
Middlesex fast bowler Steven Finn is also out of the two-day game against a Western Australia XI on Saturday and next week’s pink ball match against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide because of a knee problem.
Team medics hope Finn’s injury will settle down and that he will be able to remain on tour.
While Finn’s injury is more serious, Moeen is the bigger concern because he is fundamental to England’s chances of winning the little urn.
Moeen reported soreness in his left side on Thursday and regarded the scan as nothing more than precautionary.
But now England are saying he is not expected to return to full training until the middle of this month – which is a tight time frame with the First Test starting in Brisbane on November 23.
Moeen has suffered side strains in the past but insists this injury is not as bad.
An England spokesman said: “After undergoing scans, it has been decided that Finn and Moeen will miss the first two warm-up matches of the tour.
“Finn will be monitored by the England medical department over the next seven days and a further decision on his fitness will be made then.