Pattinson out of summer Ashes with back injury

Australian bowler James Pattinson has reportedly been ruled out of the summer Ashes series in England with a stress fracture of the back, adding to the ever-increasing list of Australia's sorrows.

According to the Mirror, the fast bowler felt the problem during the second Test at Lord's, which his side lost and came down 2-0 in the five-Test series, when he bowled more than 40 overs with only a three-hour rest in between and then batted for more than two hours before being the last man out.

The report further said that although Australia's pace bowling could be covered by Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird and James Faulkner, with the trio playing in a two-day game shoot-out against Sussex this week, Pattinson's injury deprives Australia of a key weapon in their bid to avoid further punishment.

However, Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said that they would start a rehabilitation programme aiming to have Pattinson back for the Australian summer.

According to the report, Pattinson's injury has highlighted how hard England made their bowlers work in the sweltering heat, adding that the fitness of Australian quicks has long been a concern with Ryan Harris and currently crocked Pat Cummins regularly out of action.