MELBOURNE: England seamer Reece Topley has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup in Australia due to ligament damage to his left ankle, the country’s cricket board (ECB) said on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old will be replaced by fellow left-arm fast bowler Tymal Mills, who was travelling with the squad as a reserve player.
Topley, who has picked up 22 wickets in as many T20 games, sustained the injury during a fielding drill ahead of England’s warm-up game against Pakistan in Brisbane on Monday.
“Results of the scan on Tuesday in Perth revealed the injury,” the ECB said in a statement, adding that Lancashire’s Luke Wood has been added as a travelling reserve. England, T20 World Cup champions in 2010, open their campaign against Afghanistan in Perth on Saturday.
Sri Lanka have also been forced to make two changes to their squad, with Kasun Rajitha coming in for Dushmantha Chameera after the pace spearhead was sidelined due to a torn calf muscle while Ashen Bandara replaces the injured Danushka Gunathilaka.
The United Arab Emirates have drafted in Fahad Nawaz following a foot fracture to paceman Zawar Farid. Sri Lanka face Group A leaders Netherlands in their last Super 12 qualifier on Thursday and the UAE take on Namibia. – Agencies
