Reece Topley injures England ahead of the T20 World Cup opener against Afghanistan after rolling his ankle during field practice in the sailor’s latest setback
England open their T20 World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on Saturday
Reece Topley stepped on the ‘Toblerone’ boundary foam during a fielding drill
Left arm seamer rolled his left ankle and will be judged before the match
28-year-old has recovered from four stress fractures of the back in the past five years
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England suffered an injury before their World Cup opener against Afghanistan when Reece Topley rolled his left ankle during field exercises here.
The left-armed sailor stepped into the ‘Toblerone’ boundary foam at the Gabba and took catches during Monday’s training session ahead of England’s warm-up win over Pakistan and is a doubtful case for Saturday’s game that kicks off this campaign.
England will continue to judge Topley this week, but it is a potentially desperate blow to a gifted bowler who has had extensive injury problems during his career.
Reece Topley injures England after rolling his ankle during a field exercise
Topley takes a catch to sack Haider Ali during recent T20 series against Pakistan
Topley, 28, has struggled from four stress fractures of his back in five years to become a regular and key member of the England whiteball team and is currently just outside the top 10 of the Twenty20 world rankings.
He has become particularly adept at death bowling, a traditional weakness for England, and was destined to bowl the crucial 19th in this tournament.
Whether that can still happen remains to be seen and his possible absence is the first real blow England has dealt in a campaign that has started brilliantly here, with three wins in four warm-up games and a dominant performance in the washed out fourth.
And they saw Liam Livingstone return from injury on Monday to play his part in England’s latest win over Pakistan and set a marker for a place against Afghanistan in a squad brimming with exciting options.
Liam Livingstone was excellent with the bat during England’s win over Pakistan on Monday
If Topley’s injury turns out to be serious, they’ll have more options in traveling reserves Tymal Mills, who looked impressive and fast in practice here, and Richard Gleeson.
Mills could provide another left arm angle along with Sam Curran and David Willey and some serious pace alongside Mark Wood, while Gleeson is an experienced alternative.
England are hoping it won’t come to that and that Topley’s latest injury is just an inconvenience at the start of a long tournament. They will re-evaluate him in Perth where England will train again for the big opening game on Thursday.
Another left poorer sure to face Afghanistan is Curran, who has had a great start to this journey and now looks likely to hit as high as number 7 in the England lineup, with captain Jos Buttler showing so many bowling options in England like. his side possible.
Sam Curran seems sure of his place in England for the opener with Afghanistan
Curran has also looked good on death here and it looks like he will bowl both the 18th and 20th overs when the opponent brings both bat and the punch that impressed him against Pakistan on Monday with a light-hearted unbeaten 33 off 14 balls with three sixes.
“I hadn’t hit much until now, but that’s a good thing, because it means our boys hit well, but Jos said to me ‘get the order up,’” said Curran, who hit at six at the Gabba . “I really enjoyed it and it was a good run.”
Curran is now in line to take on the role of ‘finisher’ in this English batting formation, coming in behind Moeen Ali and possibly Liam Livingstone or Harry Brook and perhaps only running into a handful of balls. But they will be crucial.
“You have to train a certain way to predict what lies ahead,” Curran said. “You see the way ‘Livi’ plays. He knows his role, he knows he will come in to attack, and there will be days when it will let go and others will not.
“When I play, I know I’ll be in the middle and try to make the best of it, so I’ve been working hard on my percussion.”