Worrall's Ashes hopes shattered by another back injury

Any hopes fast bowler Daniel Worrall had of making Australia's Ashes squad have been dashed after a stress fracture in his lower back ended his season with Gloucestershire.

Worrall, 27, has not played since experiencing back soreness during Gloucestershire's Royal London Cup match with Middlesex at Lord's on April 21.

Gloucestershire released a statement confirming that scans had found a stress fracture in Worrall's back.

"Dan had multiple investigations where the Gloucestershire medical team eventually diagnosed a stress fracture in his back, which will require a period of time on the sidelines before returning to bowling," the statement said.

Gloucestershire confirmed he would not play the remainder of the English season and the club is searching for another overseas bowler.

South Australia's sports science and sports medicine manager John Porter said: "Daniel's injury is a recurrence of a pre-existing stress injury and he will have the next 12 weeks off bowling. We are aiming for him to return early in the Australian domestic cricket season."

It is wretched luck for the injury-ravaged Worrall. He had his county stint last season ruined by a foot fracture that saw him miss the start of the Australian domestic summer with South Australia.

He returned with a bang taking 17 wickets in two Sheffield Shield games prior to Christmas to put his name in the mix for an Ashes call up. He then suffered another back injury that curtailed the start of his BBL campaign.

Worrall returned to play a big part in the Melbourne Stars run to the BBL final, taking 4 for 23 in the semi-final win over Hobart Hurricanes, before injuring his hamstring in another Shield game in March.