Fast bowler Joel Paris has withdrawn from the Australia A side heading to New Zealand to play two four-day test matches with the Dukes ball in the lead-up to the Ashes in June.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.
"I've never really focused on long-term goals, but I think being an EnglandAshes year and Dukes balls, plus being a left-armer as well there's an option to go down there," Paris said.
"I've really just focused on playing great cricket for WA this year and then if opportunities come up and the right timing happens, we'll see what happens from there. But that [international cricket] is something I've always strived to get back to.
"It's been a while since I represented Australia and if that opportunity arises, I'll take it with both hands."
A few notable names have been left out of the squad or have withdrawn because they signed County cricket deals to play in England in the lead-up to the Ashes, including Cameron Bancroft and Peter Handscomb.