Ashes 2017: Steve Finn's tour still in doubt after freak training injury

The 28-year-old’s hopes of making a first Test appearance in more than a year rest on how the injury reacts over the next week after scans proved inconclusive

Steve Finn's tour is still in doubt despite being cleared to stay on in Australia (Getty)

Steve Finn’s Ashes tour is still in doubt despite the fact he has been cleared to remain in Australia following the freak injury he sustained during practice on Thursday.

There were fears the Middlesex fast bowler would be heading home just four days into the tour after he jarred his left knee when he hit it with his bat attempting a drive in the nets.

Finn had only been called up as a late replacement for Ben Stokes, who remains back in England as he awaits the outcome of a police investigation into his late-night altercation in Bristol during the one-day series against West Indies in September.

Now, though, the 28-year-old’s hopes of making a first Test appearance in more than a year rest on how the injury reacts over the next week after scans proved inconclusive.

An England statement said: “Finn will be monitored by the England medical department over the next seven days and a further decision on his fitness will be made at that time.”

There was more positive news on Moeen Ali’s side problem, with England confirming he will be fit for the first Ashes Test at Brisbane starting on November 23, even though like Finn he has been ruled out of the opening two tour matches, starting against a Western Australia XI at the WACA on Saturday.

England’s statement added: “Moeen Ali has aggravated his left side. He will miss the first two tour matches. He is expected to return to full training by mid-November ahead of the tour match in Townsville starting on November 15.”

It means Moeen will miss England’s pink-ball warm-up match against a Cricket Australia in Adelaide next week, which the tourists were keen to play their strongest team in given it will act as a dry run for the first-ever day-night Ashes Test at the same venue in December.


 Steven Finn and Moeen Ali left training for scans on Thursday 
 (Getty)

Yet team management will be relieved Moeen is at least expected to be fit for the Ashes given the current unavailability of fellow all-rounder Stokes.