Fast bowler Lance Morris has been ruled out of the entire 2025/26 summer due to back surgery, Cricket Australia has confirmed.
The 27-year-old was originally named in Australia’s squad for the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, but he was withdrawn at the eleventh hour after team medics picked up a flare-up in his lower back.
On Sunday afternoon, CA announced that Morris would undergo the same back surgery Cameron Green had last year, ending his hopes of an Ashes debut this summer. He also won’t join Australia A’s squad in India next month, having been named in the four-day touring party.
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“Morris experienced a recurrence of lower back soreness during preparation for ODI series against South Africa and returned to Perth for further investigation and assessment,” CA said in a statement, adding recovery is expected to take 12 months.
“Following extensive specialist consultation, Lance has decided to undergo pars stabilisation surgery with Rowan Schouten in Christchurch New Zealand to address an ongoing lumbar bone stress injury.”
Former Australian fast bowlers James Pattinson and Jason Behrendorff underwent similar surgery early in their professional careers.
Morris was expected to be Australia’s fifth pace option for the upcoming Ashes campaign against England, but his injury setback opens the door for the likes of Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson or Fergus O’Neill to join the Test squad.
“I feel this is the most logical way to realise my full potential and return to my very best cricket for the Scorchers, Western Australia and Australia long into the future,” Morris said in a statement.
“I also take great confidence in others who have undergone similar procedures and returned to their best. I plan to work hard through my recovery and return when the time is right.”
Capable of bowling over 150km/h, Morris has taken 87 wickets at 24.75 for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield, earning a maiden Test call-up in 2022. He has been nationally contracted for the last three years, but to date has only played three ODIs.
Morris has an unfortunate history of injury setbacks. He missed the 2023 Ashes due to a ‘hot spot’ in his back, with scans revealing a similar problem 12 months later, much to his frustration.
Elsewhere, a side strain ruled him out of the 2024 Test tour of New Zealand, while a quad strain interrupted his 2024/25 summer.