Toby Roland-Jones to miss the rest of 2018 after recurrence of stress fracture
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: Toby Roland-Jones of England traps Temba Bavuma of South Africa lbw during the 3rd Investec Test between England and South Africa at The Kia Oval on July 31, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
(Photo: Getty Images)
By Adam Ellis
England and Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones has been ruled out for the rest of the 2018 cricket season after suffering a recurrence of the lower-back stress fracture that forced him to miss the Ashes series.
In Middlesex’s recent County Championship defeat to Derbyshire, Roland-Jones had bowled five overs when he was then gripped by soreness and then withdrawn from the attack.
And in a statement, the 30-year-old’s club confirmed that Roland-Jones’ season was over and an ‘extended period of rehabilitation’ was required.
“Middlesex Cricket regretfully announces that Toby Roland-Jones will miss the remainder of the 2018 season,” the statement confirmed.
“Toby suffered soreness in his back during the game at Derbyshire and scans have subsequently confirmed a recurrence of the stress fracture he suffered last September.”
Former England bowler and now Middlesex managing director of cricket Angus Fraser sympathised with Roland-Jones’ predicament, as he sought a return to the England Test fold this summer to add to his four caps.
Fraser commented: “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.
“Yet one player’s misfortune is another players opportunity and we have a number of young, hungry bowlers on our staff. They now have an opportunity to show their potential and to fill the hole created by Toby’s misfortune. I have every confidence they are up to this challenge.”
The absence of Roland-Jones serves an opportunity to the county’s recent arrival from Kent in Harry Podmore, fast bowler James Fuller, or young left-arm seamer Tom Barber.