England seamer Reece Topley has unfortunately been ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to an ankle injury. There had been doubts regarding his place in the squad as he was dealing with the injury. It is also a major blow to the team’s campaign beginning in Perth on Saturday. It has come to light that the 28-year-old left-arm rolled his left ankle during a fielding drill in Brisbane on Monday ahead of England’s final warm-up match against Pakistan. Sky Sports reported that he will not be a part of the high-profile tournament.
Reece Topley pulled out of the T20 World Cup
It is understood that the scans taken after the injury have revealed significant damage. England, who play against Afghanistan in their opening match here on Saturday, have two fast bowlers among their traveling reserves — left-armer Tymal Mills and right-arm quick Richard Gleeson.
“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 traveling reserve.
Mills, who has not played since August because of a toe injury, is most likely to be promoted into the full squad as Reece Topley’s replacement.
Reece Topley is England’s leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals in 2022, with 17 scalps in 16 games at an average of 28. He became an integral part of England’s T20 bowling attack, operating with the new ball and at the death. He has had four back stress fractures in five years, most recently in 2018, which led him to consider retirement.
It is noted that in last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, Mills played four matches, picking up seven wickets, before his tournament was ended by a thigh injury.
