STEVEN FINN has been told the devastating news that his Ashes tour is over because of a knee injury.
Fast bowler Finn will fly home after scans revealed a torn left knee cartilage and he is likely to need an operation.
England will call up a replacement with Yorkshire’s Liam Plunkett, Surrey’s Tom Curran and Tom Helm of Middlesex among those in the frame.
Durham’s Mark Wood will not be considered at this stage because he is still recovering from a foot injury.
Finn was initially omitted from England’s squad but called up as replacement when team supremo Andrew Strauss banned Ben Stokes following the Bristol brawl.
An early exit is a cruel blow to Finn who hoped this tour would erase the nightmare memory of his trip to Australia in 2013-14.
Then, he was sent home early after former one-day coach Ashley Giles described him as “not selectable” following a collapse in form and confidence.
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England's Ashes warm-up fixtures
Nov 4-5 vs Western Australia XI (Perth)
Nov 8-11 vs Cricket Australia XI d/n (Adelaide)
Nov 15-18 vs Cricket Australia XI (Townsville)
Dec 9-10 vs Cricket Australia XI (Perth)
Finn hurt his left knee while batting in the nets in Perth last Thursday and England said they would allow a week for the injury to settle down.
He was given an injection on Sunday but there was no improvement.
Further examination revealed the tear.
Head coach Trevor Bayliss said: “He had an injection a couple of days ago when the medical people thought it might help but that has not happened.”
Allrounder Moeen Ali is also an injury fear, having strained his side.
But England’s medical staff are confident he will be fit to face the Aussies.
England play the first of two final warm-up matches against a Cricket Australia XI on Wednesday.
FRO-ZEN Aussie fast bowler Mitchell Johnson sang Let It Go in his head to block out Barmy Army abuse
The First Test with Australia begins in Brisbane on 23 November.
Bayliss said: “Moeen will be fine.
“We’ll probably leave him out of the first game as a precaution, but he’ll play the last game before the first Test.”
An ECB statement said: “Steven Finn will miss the remainder of England’s tour of Australia after scans revealed that he has a torn left knee cartilage.
“The Middlesex seamer sustained the injury during practice last week in Perth and will now return to the UK in 48 hours where he will meet a knee specialist to ascertain whether he will have an operation.
“England will announce his replacement for the rest of the tour in due course”
England's Ashes Test schedule
Nov 23-27 First Test (Brisbane)
Dec 2-6 Second Test (Adelaide)
Dec 14-18 Third Test (Perth)
Dec 26-30 Fourth Test (Melbourne)
Jan 4-8 Fifth Test (Sydney)
England's Ashes ODI schedule
Jan 11 vs CA XI (Sydney)
Jan 14 First ODI (Melbourne)
Jan 19 Second ODI (Brisbane)
Jan 21 Third ODI (Sydney)
Jan 26 Fourth ODI (Adelaide)
Jan 28 Fifth ODI (Perth)
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