Blow for England and Middlesex as Toby Roland-Jones is ruled out for the rest of the cricket season

Toby Roland-Jones has suffered a bitter blow with the recurrence of the back injury that ruled him out of the Ashes, meaning he will miss the remainder of the 2018 season.

The Middlesex and England fast bowler played four Tests last summer, averaging under 20 with the ball, but picked up a stress fracture to his lower back while playing for Middlesex in September.

Having undergone rehabilitation with the England pace programme, he went on the Lions tour of the Caribbean in February and struggled for form. Now, he has suffered a repeat of the injury in just his second county game of the season, against Derbyshire last weekend.

Aged 30, the road back to international cricket looks a long one for Roland-Jones.

All this for a player known for his durability, who had an impeccable injury record for five seasons before the injury last September.

That was a cruel enough blow, as England planned to use him in the Ashes, which they lost 4-0.

Now, Roland-Jones will miss England’s seven Tests against Pakistan and India this summer, as well as Middlesex’s bid for promotion from Division Two of the County Championship.