England's Toby Roland-Jones to miss remainder of 2018 season with injury

The 30-year-old made an impressive start to his international career last summer, taking 17 wickets in four Tests against South Africa and the West Indies

Roland-Jones will miss the remainder of the 2018 season (Getty)

England seamer Toby Roland-Jones will miss the remainder of the 2018 season with a recurrence of a stress fracture in his back.

The 30-year-old made an impressive start to his international career last summer, taking 17 wickets in four Tests against South Africa and the West Indies at an average of 19.64.

However, he developed a stress fracture towards the end of the 2017 county season which ruled him out of the winter Ashes tour and the problem has resurfaced after he returned to action with Middlesex this month.

"Everybody at the club is devastated for Toby," said director of cricket Angus Fraser. "Our immediate thoughts are with him, and that he makes a full recovery.

"I know how frustrating it can be to miss a summer of cricket through injury, having been through this myself on two occasions. The ray of light is that you do recover and you do come back stronger and even more determined.

"Toby’s absence is obviously a set-back for Middlesex and he will be missed for more than just his bowling. He is a fantastic presence in the dressing room and has been one of the finest bowlers in the country in the past six or seven years.

"Yet one players misfortune is another players opportunity and we have a number of young, hungry bowlers on our staff. They now have an opportunity to show their potential and to fill the hole created by Toby’s misfortune. I have every confidence they are up to this challenge."