England fast bowler Steve Finn ruled out from the Ashes

Steve Finn’s Ashes 2017-18 came to an end even before taking off as he has been ruled out of the entire tour ahead of the opening Test. Finn sustained a torn cartilage in his left knee. The fast bowler will fly back to England and will consult a specialist to confirm whether he requires a surgery for the freak injury that he sustained while batting at the nets last week.

This was Finn’s third Ashes tour and this time his tour lasted only for nine days following the unfortunate incident in Perth last Thursday when he struck himself on the knee with his own bat while attempting a drive during the net session.

Liam Plunkett is in contention to replace Finn

Right now, three players are in contention to replace Finn in the Ashes squad. Liam Plunkett, who is in Bangladesh right now to play the Bangladesh Premier League, Tom Helm, a 23-year-old fast bowler and Tom Curran.

An England statement said: “Steven Finn will miss the remainder of England’s tour of Australia after scans revealed he has a torn left knee cartilage. The Middlesex seamer will now return to the UK in the next 48 hours where he will meet a knee specialist to ascertain whether he will have an operation. England will announce his replacement for the rest of the tour in due course.”

Earlier, England’s key all-rounder Moeen Ali had ruled out from first two Tests due to a side strain. England, who will play a four-day pink ball match against a Cricket Australia XI at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow, had given Finn a week’s time to prove his fitness after initial scans proved inconclusive.

The first Test of the 2017-2018 Ashes will start on November 23. England last won a Ashes in Australia in 2010-2011 and suffered a huge blow in 2013-2014 Ashes.

This time England under skipper Joe Root they will try to emulate the performance. At the same time, Steve Smith’s Australia will look for a revenge from the arch-rivals, who humiliated Australia in 2015 home Ashes.