LONDON, (Reuters) – Fast bowler Graham Onions is  expected to be out of action for a further nine months once he  undergoes back surgery next week, the England and Wales Cricket  Board (ECB) said yesterday.

“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,” ECB chief medical  officer, Nick Peirce said in a statement on Thursday.

Onions had been having extensive treatment for a  stress-fracture related back injury since May in the hope of  being fit for the Ashes tour to Australia, which starts in  November, but surgery is now his only option for recovery.

“Obviously I’m shattered to have been ruled out of the Ashes  with the prospect of a lengthy recovery period,” said Onions,  who will have surgery on Monday.

“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,” he  added.

Onions, who has not played for England since January, picked  up the injury in practice before the two-test series against  Bangladesh in March.

“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,”  Onions added.