Fast bowler Joel Paris has withdrawn from the Australia A side heading to New Zealand to play two four-day test matches with the Dukes ball in the lead-up to the Ashes in June.
The 30-year-old pushed through the pain to compete in the Sheffield Shield final with Western Australia, taking five wickets in the match but did so while utilising pain-killing injections.
His initial selection was well deserved, with his final Shield bowling stats for the season coming in at 27 wickets at 17.37, but his return does not have a timeline yet, putting any Ashes hopes he had in some doubt.
Despite the Australian test side having a consistently set bowling lineup, Paris still felt he had a chance of making the squad, and he was backed by his coach at Western Australia, Adam Voges.
After emerging victorious in the Shield final against Victoria, Paris spoke about his chances and desire to represent Australia again after his two T20I games in 2016.