Cross ruled out of first Ashes ODI with back injury

Due to a back injury, England seamer Kate Cross won’t play in the women’s ashes’ first one-day international.

Cross, 33, was unable to play the one-time Test match against South Africa in December because of a back spasm that occurred during the third ODI of the tour.

Along with Nat Sciver-Brunt, Lauren Filer and Lauren Bell were chosen as the front-line seamers.

Cross was unable to bowl in the tour’s only warm-up match on Thursday, where only 28.2 overs were completed because of rain in Sydney.

She revealed on the No Balls podcast with Alex Hartley that she had an epidural in order to prepare for the first game but was unable to demonstrate her fitness in time.

England suffers a significant blow from Filer and Bell’s lack of experience and dependability, who have played 12 and 16 games, respectively.

The multi-format Ashes started on Saturday (23: 30 GMT) with the first of three ODIs, which are followed by three T20s and one Test match.

The remaining ODIs, which take place on January 13 in Melbourne and on January 15 in Hobart, have not yet been confirmed.

She is not in England’s T20 squad but would be likely to play in the Test if able.