Jake Ball ruled out for remainder of the season

Jake Ball, the Nottinghamshire and England pace bowler, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a back problem.

Ball picked up the problem in the T20 Blast against Derbyshire at the beginning of August and has not been able to play since.

Nottinghamshire face Somerset in the final T20 Blast quarter-final on Sunday and are currently third in Division One of the County Championship. Ball had taken 28 Championship wickets at 22.25 in six matches, but had only managed three wickets in six T20 matches at an economy of 9.26.

"I'm extremely disappointed to get the news, I'd hoped to be back for the final parts of the season but unfortunately that isn't possible," Ball said.

"I'll be following and supporting the boys and hopefully we can get through to Finals Day and have a go at defending our title.

"For me I'll be working hard on my rehab so that I can have a full winter programme and be raring to go for next season."

Ball featured occasionally for England during the 2018 season, playing the final ODI against Australia at Old Trafford - where he held his nerve with the bat to allow Jos Buttler to secure a one-wicket win - and was also part of two of the T20Is against India.

He might have been in the frame for a spot on the one-day tour of Sri Lanka in October if there had been any injuries to the first-choice pace attack.