Finn, Ali provide England with first Ashes injury worries

England has suffered two injury blows ahead of its first Ashes tour warm-up match, with paceman Steven Finn and all-rounder Moeen Ali set to undergo scans.

Finn jarred his left knee while batting in the nets on Thursday at training.

He crouched to the ground in pain after suffering the jar, and limped off gingerly to the change rooms.

Ali has a sore left side that has bothered him in recent days.

The duo will undergo scans on Friday in Perth, with their spots in doubt for this weekend's two-day tour match against a WA XI outfit at the WACA Ground.

Finn was only included in the Ashes squad after Ben Stokes' provisional suspension over the Bristol nightclub incident.

The 28-year-old faced an uphill battle to be picked as the team's fourth seamer. His untimely injury will further dampen his hopes depending on the severity.

Ali has played 44 Tests for England, and his experience looms as a crucial cog in a squad that is lacking many hardened veterans.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old late bloomer Mark Stoneman hopes he is the answer to England's revolving door problem at the top of the order.

Alastair Cook has had 12 opening partners since Andrew Strauss' 2012 retirement, with Stoneman being the most recent.

Stoneman, who debuted in August's three-Test series against the West Indies, is again set to partner Cook at the top of the order for the Ashes opener, starting on November 23 in Brisbane.

He said being picked for the Ashes was the pinnacle for him in Test cricket, and would prove to be his toughest challenge.

"I think I've got a natural flow to my game, and I'm always looking to score," Stoneman said.

"Hopefully, that can take pressure off Cookie if I'm playing well.

"I don't think it rests just on myself and Cookie at the top of the order but, generally, the momentum will start there."

AAP

 

Author: 
www.abc.net.au