It is becoming a curse to be an England bowler, as Jack Leach has found out little more than a week away from the Ashes.

Already short on spinners, England have lost the best of their modest slow bowlers after Leach was ruled out for the entire five-Test series, which begins at Edgbaston on June 16.

The loss comes as Australia ruled paceman Josh Hazlewood out of the World Championship final, against India at the Oval beginning on Wednesday, to save him for the Ashes. Scott Boland is expected to play in Hazlewood’s place.

If England are to continue their attacking, gung-ho approach in the “Bazball” era they could opt for 18-year-old leg-spinning sensation Rehan Ahmed as a replacement for Leach.

He became the youngest man to play Test cricket for England on his debut in Karachi last December. In his only Test, he claimed a pivotal 5-48 in the second innings to finish with seven wickets for the match.

However, he is still considered raw and there are concerns about the way the Australians attack spinners, with Leach suffering at times. A recall for Moeen Ali is another option. Ali’s last Test match was in September 2021 against India at the Oval.

There was some good news for England on the bowling front, with debutant paceman Josh Tongue claiming 5-66 in the second innings of England’s 10-wicket victory over Ireland on Sunday.

Rushed into the squad as cover for injured pair Jimmy Anderson (groin) and Ollie Robinson (ankle), Tongue was preferred ahead of Lord’s specialist Chris Woakes, 34, who averages 61.2 with the bat and 11.3 with the ball in five Tests at the ground. Tongue had never played at Lord’s.