MOEEN ALI and Steven Finn gave England a double injury scare just four days into their Ashes tour.
The pair will both undergo scans tomorrow after suffering problems as Joe Root’s team prepare for their first warm-up game on Saturday.
All-rounder Moeen is a particular worry because his batting and off-spin bowling talents are fundamental to the balance of England’s team – especially in the absence of Ben Stokes.
Moeen complained of soreness in his left side and took no part in England’s practice session here on Thursday.
A side strain is the nightmare injury for any bowler and Moeen has missed games with the problem in the past.
England will be praying the scan shows no serious damage and that he will be fine for the First Test in Brisbane on November 23.
Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes was out for two months during the summer with a side strain.
Middlesex fast bowler Finn whacked the inside of his left knee while batting in the nets.
He collapsed to the floor in pain and then limped away.
He had earlier bowler without any problems.
Finn, called up as a replacement for Stokes after initially being omitted from the squad, is desperate to bowl well on this tour after being sent home early from the 2013-14 Aussie tour when his form and confidence collapsed.
Both Moeen and Finn seem certain to miss the tour opener – a two-day affair against a Western Australian XI captained by international all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile.
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