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London: Graham Onions' slim hopes of featuring in England's defence of the Ashes in Australia later this year ended on Thursday when the seam bowler was ruled out for nine months with a back injury.
The 27-year-old Durham paceman, who played the last of his eight Tests against South Africa in Cape Town in January, had been out of action since returning home early from England's tour of Bangladesh in March.
But Onions, who now faces back surgery, vowed to fight his way back to form and fitness.
"Obviously I'm shattered to have been ruled out of the Ashes with the prospect of a lengthy recovery period," Onions said in an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement.
"After experiencing the euphoria of being part of an Ashes winning England team last year I was determined to get myself fit for selection ahead of this winter's tour of Australia.
"Unfortunately that's not to be and even though we have tried every possible form of treatment, surgery is the only option left," added Onions, who has taken 28 Test wickets at 31.03 apiece.
While I'm devastated to be facing such a long lay off from cricket I'm determined to overcome this setback and make sure I get back bowling again next year and work my way back into England calculations.
It's been a difficult period for me but I realise that I have to have this operation if I want to play cricket again. I want to thank the ECB medical team for all their ongoing hard work and support.
ECB chief medical officer Nick Peirce, said Onions, who played in three Tests against Australia as England regained the Ashes on home soil last year, confirmed the seamer now faced a lengthy lay-off.
"Graham has been suffering from ongoing discomfort due to stress fractures on both sides of his back," Peirce said.
We have thoroughly exhausted all avenues of conservative treatment and rehabilitation with surgery very much seen as a last resort.
The surgery Graham faces is a relatively significant operation and his rehabilitation will see him ruled out of all cricket for approximately up to nine months.
The first Ashes Test between Australia and England starts in Brisbane on November 25.
