England have suffered a blow with the news that Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones will miss this summer's Test series against Pakistan and India with a back injury.
The 30-year-old has suffered a recurrence of the stress fracture which ruled him out of the winter Ashes tour.
Roland-Jones 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 prevented him joining the squad in Australia and New Zealand.
He had returned for the start of the county season with Middlesex, but bowled only five overs in last week's defeat to Derbyshire before a sore back ended his participation with the ball.
Middlesex managing director of cricket Angus Fraser, said: "Everybody at the club is devastated for Toby and 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."
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