Jake Ball injury blow leaves England stretched in bowling department for South Africa Test

England’s preparations for the Test series against South Africa have been hit by the news that Jake Ball has been ruled out of next week’s First Test at Lord’s.

The Nottinghamshire fast bowler sustained an injury to his right knee during a County Championship match against Kent on Tuesday and it was confirmed this morning he will be out for around two weeks.

It means Ball will miss the series opener against South Africa at Lord’s, which starts a week today, and is also a doubt for the Second Test at Trent Bridge, starting on July 14.

Ball, who has played three Tests, will also miss his county’s Royal London One-Day Cup Final against Surrey at Lord’s on Saturday.

Notts coach Peter Moores said: “Jake is naturally very disappointed but he is a very strong character and I’m sure he’ll bounce back from this.”

Ball joins Chris Woakes on the injury list for Lord’s and England’s bowling resources could be stretched to the limit if Stuart Broad is also ruled out with a bruised left heel.

The news on Broad does, at least, appear more positive after he came through a bowling session in the Trent Bridge nets last night.

Broad was photographed during that workout by a local journalist, who posted the picture on Twitter with the caption: “@StuartBroad8 doing a fitness test at 10pm. Must be desperate to play at Lord’s.”

Broad, who is scheduled to bowl again in the nets tonight, replied: “Desperate is an understatement...”

England and the player himself remain positive he will be available for Lord’s and an announcement on his availability is expected tomorrow morning.

Even if the news on Broad is positive, England are still likely to call up cover for him, which would put Middlesex’s Toby Roland-Jones in the frame for a call-up following his encouraging ODI debut against South Africa last month.

England assistant coach Paul Farbrace said: “You have to accept seam bowlers are going to get injured but there is enough quality around and bowlers with overs under their belt to ensure whatever team we come up with next week we will have a high quality attack.”

England’s selectors, who will announce their squad on Sunday morning, will also have some big decisions to make on the make-up of their batting line-up for Lord’s.

Young opener Haseeb Hameed’s latest failure for Lancashire make him all but unselectable, despite his fine debut series in India last winter.

The 20-year-old was out for 23 in Lancashire’s second innings against Warwickshire at Edgbaston last night, meaning he has now failed to reach 50 in 15 innings so far this summer.

Hameed’s poor form means Gary Ballance, dropped after a terrible Test series in Bangladesh last winter, looks set for a recall into the middle order. Ballance, who is averaging more than 100 for Yorkshire this season, will have a further chance to press his claims when he captains the England Lions against South Africa in a three-day match starting in Worcester today.

England coach Trevor Bayliss said: “Gary’s very mentally tough, that’s why he has come back time and again.”