England's increasingly ragged tour party received a further body blow with the news that Alex Tudor might well be out of the reckoning for the rest of the Ashes series. Tudor is still feeling the effects of being struck in the head by Brett Lee in the closing overs of the Perth Test a fortnight ago, and he has admitted that his vision is still not back to normal following the blow. The next Test begins at Melbourne on Boxing Day, but Tudor is not confident of being fit.

"The bruising has gone down, but my eye is still quite bloodshot," he told Cricket365. "The vision in my left eye is still not that great and the doctor has advised me not to rush it. There is a chance I might not be ready for the next Test.

"I am hoping the eye will improve but things are still quite blurry. I was hit pretty hard, but I can do everything else apart from bat at the moment."

If Tudor were to be ruled out then that would leave England with just three quick bowlers - Andy Caddick, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard. And Caddick's fitness is dubious - he missed the second VB Series match against Australia at Melbourne today because of a flare-up of his knee injury.

The odds must be on yet another replacement being drafted into the squad as cover.

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