England have suffered a major blow on the eve of the first Ashes cricket test against Australia with pace bowler James Anderson ruled out with a calf injury.
The opening match of the five test series is due to start on Wednesday at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Anderson's absence would then leave England with a decision on the balance of their attack.
They could opt for four frontline pace bowlers, or include the left-arm spin of Jack Leach.
That decision looks to hinge Ben Stokes' ability to play a full part with the ball.
Stokes has not played any meaningful cricket since July, so England could be reluctant to ask him to fill the role of a fourth seamer.
If Stokes is deemed fit enough to bowl his full quota of overs, it could open the door for Leach and leave pace bowlers Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson vying for three places.
James Anderson is England's all time leading wicket taker. Photo: Photosport
Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, managed only four overs during the last Ashes series in the UK in 2019 before being ruled out with a calf problem.
Writing in his newspaper column for the Telegraph, he said he was targeting playing three Tests on this tour, his fifth trip down under.
England will want to use his skills in the second, a day-nighter in Adelaide, which begins only four days after the first ends.
With the fifth Test being moved from Perth, a further pink-ball match looks set to be added to the schedule.
England are looking to regain the Ashes, which Australia retained with a 2-2 draw in the UK in 2019.
England have not won at the Gabba since 1986, though Australia did surrender a 33-year unbeaten record on that ground when they lost to India in January.
-BBC