MOEEN Ali will miss the opening two warm-up matches of England’s Ashes tour with a side injury.

The ECB have confirmed the Worcestershire all-rounder will not play in the two-day match against a Western Australia XI at the WACA, Perth, from tomorrow.

Moeen will also miss the four-day game with a Cricket Australia XI at the Adelaide Oval beginning next Wednesday.

A scan revealed Moeen, who last week signed a new five-year contract with Worcestershire, has aggravated his left side.

But the encouraging news is the 30-year-old is expected to return to full training by mid-November.

That will be ahead of the final tour game against a CA XI in Townsville starting on November 15, eight days before the first Test is due to get under way.

Paceman Steven Finn will also miss the opening two games after undergoing a scan on his left knee.

The Middlesex seamer will be monitored by the England medical department over the next seven days before a further decision is made.