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England’s left-arm fast bowler, Reece Topley, has been forced to exit the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 in India due to a fracture on his index 𓄧finger. The unfortunate injury took place during a game against South Africa in Mumbai on Saturday, where Topley attempted to field a ball off his own bowling but ended up nursing a painful finger.
Topley’s brave attempt to continue despite injury
In a display of remarkable determination, Topley returned to the field later in the same innings, with his fingers securely taped, and managed to grab two m𓆏ore wickets for his t🥃eam. However, subsequent scans have now disclosed the full extent of the injury, ultimately sidelining him from the tournament.
Jofra Archer excluded as a replacement
Meanwhile, England’s head coach, Matthew Mott, has ruled out the possibility of Jofra Archer stepping in as a replacement for Topley, as Archer himself is in the midst of injury rehabilitation and unavailable for selection. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that a new player will be named as Topley’s substitute at a later date.
Also READ: World Cup 2023 – Nasser Hussain gives his verdict on England after their crushing defeat to South Africa
A series of unfortunate injuries for Topley
This injury adds to the unfortunate series of setbacks in Topley’s career. Prior to ongoing World Cup, he faced a peculiar injury setback during a practice session for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. In an unusual incident, Topley tripped over an advertisement hoarding while attempting a catch near the boundary, resulting in a ligament injury.
Before that, he battled a series of stress fractures in his back, which eventually necessitated surgery. His recovery from these fractures was a long and arduous journey, during which he worked tirelessly to cement his place in England’s white-ball cricket setup.
Topley’s impact in the World Cup and England’s struggles
Despite missing a game before his exit, Topley was the leading wicket-taker for England in the ongoing multi-team event, having taken 8 wickets. Nevertheless, England’s campaign in the tournament has been challenging, with the team losing three out of their four matches and currently occupying the second-last position in the points table.