Tim Paine To Undergo Neck Surgery Ahead Of The Ashes

Australia's Test captain Tim Paine is set to go in the operating theatre for neck surgery on Tuesday and will miss the opening games of the domestic season for Tasmania. 

The 37-year-old will be undergoing surgery to fix a pinched nerve that has given him pain in the neck and left arm and restricted his pre-season training. 

However, the surgery is a minor one which means he will be able to restart light physical activity in September and full training in October, and be ready to play by early November. 

"The consensus of the spinal surgeon and the CA medical team was to have the surgery now which will allow plenty of time to fully prepare for the summer," Paine said in a statement.

"I expect to be able to restart physical activity by the end of this month and be back in full training in October. I will be ready to go by the first Test and am very much looking forward to what will be a huge summer," he added. 

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Australia was expected to begin its Summer in late November against Afghanistan but that is unlikely now after the Taliban's takeover. However, England is scheduled to come in December and Paine will be leading the team, trying to defend the Ashes.