Reece Topley is ruled OUT of England’s Cricket World Cup campaign after fracturing his finger during their thrashing by South Africa in a huge blow for Jos Buttler’s struggling side
- Reece Topley has been ruled out for the remainder of the Cricket World Cup
- The seamer fractured his finger during England’s thrashing by South Africa
- Topley has impressed during the campaign to become the sides top wicket taker
England left-arm seamer Reece Topley’s World Cup is over after it was confirmed he fractured his left index finger while fielding off his own bowling during their 229-run thrashing by South Africa in Mumbai. A replacement has yet to be arranged.
The management feared the worst when Topley left the field towards the end of his fourth over on Saturday.
After strapping up his finger, he returned to take the wickets of Aiden Markram and David Miller, before his final over was belted for 26, leaving him with three for 88 off 8.5 overs.
Scans later revealed the extent of the injury, and it was announced on Sunday afternoon that he would return ‘in the next 24 hours’ to the UK, where he will work on his recovery with the England and Surrey medical staff.
The news is a bitter blow not just for a bowler with a long history of injuries and mishaps, but for a struggling England team who will miss his cutting edge with the new ball.
England seam bowler Reece Topley has been ruled out of the remainder of the Cricket World Cup
The Surrey star fractured his finger during England’s 229-run defeat by South Africa
The 29-year-old received treatment before leaving the field, heading to the dressing room
After being left out of their opening match, against New Zealand, he has been their leading wicket-taker, with eight at 22, including a decisive opening burst against Bangladesh in Dharamshala – England’s only win of a disastrous title defence.
Topley missed last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia after rupturing ankle ligaments treading on the boundary foam during a practice session at Brisbane.
That followed years of problems with stress fractures of the back, plus a broken hand and shoulder surgery.
Asked in the immediate aftermath of the South Africa match whether England would seek a like-for-like replacement, head coach Matthew Mott said: ‘Good question. We haven’t discussed that.
Topley has impressed so far during the campaign, becoming England’s leading wicket-taker
The news will come as a massive blow for Jos Buttler’s side, who have now lost three of their fo
‘We’ll have to sit down and look at the upcoming games, and see if there’s an X-factor player we can look at.
‘That’s why we’re very keen not to name the replacements and reserves, and it leaves an open mind for what we’re going to go with.’
Jofra Archer has already flown home after a brief spell with the squad in Mumbai continuing his rehab from elbow surgery, leaving Durham quick Brydon Carse as the most obvious like-for-like replacement.
But Mott’s openness to an ‘X-factor player’ could even bring opening batsman Jason Roy into the equation, after he was originally left out of the squad because of his concerns over his repeated back spasms.
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