Fast bowler James Pattinson ruled out of remainder of Ashes series with stress fractures James Pattinson apepals during the Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Trent Bridge. AUSTRALIA'S dreadful batting has suffered another blow with the loss of fast bowler James Pattinson for the remainder of the series. Pattinson has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the lower back, continuing a frustrating run of injuries. While his bowling has been disappointing, Pattinson has embarrassed the batsmen in this struggling side by topping the averages with 36. Spinner Ashton Agar, 19, is the leading run scorer with 130. Only Pattinson, Agar and Usman Khawaja, who played his first Test in more than 18 months at Lord's, are averaging more than 30 for the series. Pattinson, 23, first suffered stress fractures of the back aged 16 and again at 18. He has battled ongoing injury problems, the latest a side strain against South Africa last December which ruled him out for the remainder of the home summer. Pattinson has played 12 Tests, taking 47 wickets at an average 26. James Pattinson in action with the bat during the Ashes Test at Lord's. Dr Peter Brukner said Pattinson had hip and back soreness on the final day of the second Test, which Australia lost by 347 runs. "We had some scans done today in London that have identified an early stage low back stress fracture," Dr Brukner said. Unfortunately he will not take any further part in this Test series and will commence a rehabilitation program with the aim to have him back for the Australian summer. In a confusing decision Pattinson will stay on with the squad, travelling to Brighton for the tour game against Sussex and then on to Manchester before returning to Australia. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are currently on the Australia A tour of South Africa. One of them may be called up as a replacement. Australia has four other quality fast bowlers on tour, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird. Starc, who was dropped for the second Test, is the favourite to replace Pattinson for the Third Test at Old Trafford, beginning on Thursday week.