Chris Woakes is set to have a scan on his left side and is a doubt for the final Ashes Test in Sydney.
Woakes, who missed much of last summer with a similar injury, has been an ever-present in England’s campaign this winter, in which they lost the Ashes in Perth, secured a draw in Melbourne last week and are hoping for a consolation victory to reduce the scoreline to 3-1.
The absence of key bowling all-rounder Woakes would be a significant setback to the tourists, who have been planning to hand 20-year-old leg-spinner Mason Crane a debut at the SCG.
Woakes played little part in net practice on Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday in Sydney, a brief England and Wales Cricket Board update read: “Chris Woakes is going for a scan this morning (on his) left side.
“(He) is a doubt for the match.”
The 28-year-old, a regular across all formats and part of the one-day international squad to face Australia after the end of the Ashes, suffered a torn side in the first match of England’s Champions Trophy campaign six months ago and did not return until the Headingley Test against West Indies 11 weeks later.
If, as seems likely, he misses the Sydney Test, England must work out not just who replaces him in their attack but who can feasibly make runs at number eight too.
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