England suffer blow to T20 World Cup hopes as Reece Topley flies home

The game England did not want has led to the outcome they most feared: another freak injury and another key player out of the T20 World Cup. Scans have shown that Reece Topley’s trip over the advertising cushions at the Gabba in Brisbane during fielding practice before Monday’s warm-up against Pakistan has led to two ruptured ligaments in his left ankle, and he will fly home before England’s tournament has even begun for an operation and the start of his recuperation.

Topley’s injury follows that of Jonny Bairstow, who broke his left leg in three places and dislocated an ankle after slipping during a round of golf last month. England cannot confirm Topley’s withdrawal from the tournament until the International Cricket Council have approved the seamer’s replacement in the squad with one of the travelling reserves. England have two fast bowler in that three-man group, Tymal Mills and Richard Gleeson, and indications are that Mills will now move into the full squad. Ironically Mills was a member of England’s 2021 T20 World Cup squad but was forced to withdraw after suffering a thigh injury in the Super-12s game with Sri Lanka – when he was replaced by Topley.

Topley has emerged as a key player for England during a breakout year in the format, and he is their leading wicket-taker in T20s this year. His injury means an overwhelmingly positive build-up to the World Cup, which featured series wins in Pakistan and against Australia before that warm-up victory, again over Pakistan, has ended in disappointment.

Monday’s game featured another slip that would have caused concern among England’s coaching staff, as Liam Livingstone – making his return from an ankle injury of his own – fell while turning for a second run, and stayed