Injury Jinx Hits Silverwood

Chris Silverwood became the latest victim of the injury jinx which has haunted England's Ashes tour on the first day of the third Test in Perth - after only four overs.

The Yorkshire paceman, who was called into the squad because of injuries to Darren Gough and Simon Jones, and then promoted to the team at the WACA when Andy Caddick failed a fitness test on his back problem, opened the bowling when Australia replied to England's total of 185.

But after conceding 29 overs in a wicketless four-over opening spell - although he did run out Justin Langer with a good throw from the deep - Silverwood left the field late in the day and went to hospital for scans on his ankle.

It was especially worrying for England because Silverwood suffered ankle problems during the summer, playing in Yorkshire's victory over Somerset in the C&G Trophy final at Lord's shortly after learning that he had broken a bone.

The casualty list on the Ashes tour has also claimed Ashley Giles, who suffered a broken wrist batting in the nets in Adelaide; Andy Flintoff, who has been ruled out of the first three Tests following a hernia operation; and John Crawley, who edged a ball on to his hip against Australia A in Tasmania and has missed the last two Tests.