Matt Parkinson ruled out of Lions tour with stress fracture

Matt Parkinson, the Lancashire legspinner, has been ruled out of the England Lions tour of the UAE after routine scans found a stress fracture in his back.

Parkinson enjoyed a stellar season in all formats last summer, claiming 59 wickets all told, including 18 in the Royal London Cup, the most by any bowler, and a further 25 in the Vitality Blast.

On the strength of those performances, he was earlier this month named as one of Melbourne Star's signings for the 2018-19 Big Bash, an opportunity that could now be in jeopardy depending on the seriousness of his injury.

"It's a real shame for Matt that he's forced to miss the tour," said Andy Flower, the England Lions head coach. "He had a fine summer for Lancashire and his selection was just reward for the ability that he's shown.

"He's been shut down from bowling and he'll see a spinal specialist this week as we try to determine the full extent of his injury."

Parkinson will be replaced in the England Lions squad by Sussex slow left-armer Danny Briggs.

It is the second time in as many winters that a young England legspinner has been diagnosed with a stress fracture, after Hampshire's Mason Crane was ruled out of the tour of New Zealand, having made his Test debut at Sydney during the Ashes.

Crane made a comeback to county cricket in the summer but was ruled out for the rest of the season after helping Hampshire win the Royal London Cup final against Kent in June.