England fast bowler Graham Onions will undergo surgery next week on a career-threatening back injury that will rule him out of action for the next nine months.
The Durham seamer has been plagued by a stress fracture since returning from England's triumphant tour of Bangladesh in March and hasn't made a single appearance for his county this season.
Onions had targeted a return to action with Durham and a late push for the Ashes squad and had even bowled at Lord's recently under the supervision of the ECB medical staff. This further setback has now ruined any chance of an Ashes appearance.
"Obviously I'm shattered to have been ruled out of the Ashes with the prospect of a lengthy recovery period," he said. "After experiencing the euphoria of being part of an Ashes-winning England team last year, I was determined to get myself fit for selection ahead of this winter's tour of Australia.
"Unfortunately that's not to be and, even though we have tried every possible form of treatment, surgery is the only option left. While I'm devastated to be facing such a long lay-off from cricket, I'm determined to overcome this setback and make sure I get back bowling again next year and work my way back into England calculations.
"It's been a difficult period for me but I realise that I have to have this operation if I want to play cricket again. I want to thank the ECB medical team for all their ongoing hard work and support."
Onions was one of the key figures in the 2009 Ashes series taking 10 wickets and helping England regain the urn. The pace bowler also had some fine performances with the bat in South Africa as he helped England twice avoid defeat at Centurion Park and Cape Town.
