Image Credit- Getty
With a probable broken finger, Reece Topley’s awful
affliction with injuries has struck again, keeping him from participating in
the rest of England’s World Cup campaign. Jofra Archer won’t be taken into
consideration to take his spot, despite the fact that England now has five
games it must win just to qualify for the tournament’s knockout rounds.
Topley, who had four wickets in England’s lone victory
over Bangladesh in Dharamsala, continued to be his team’s most effective seam
bowler, taking three wickets in 8.5 overs, including Quinton de Kock, who was
the match’s biggest victim, with the first ball.
He did, however, leave the pitch after bending down to
intercept a fierce shot back down the ground from Rassie van der Dussen with
one ball remaining in his fourth over. After extensive treatment, he returned
to take two more wickets, but he was not required to bat as England suffered a
devastating 229-run loss, their biggest in men’s ODI history. The shot had
flicked the tip of his left index finger before flying away for four.
“I thought Reece Topley going back out to bowl
with a broken finger showed great spirit,” Matthew Mott, England’s coach,
told Sky Sports at the end of the contest, before clarifying that the team was
still awaiting the full diagnosis. “We’re still waiting on that, but it’s
very much looking like it’s a crack. Certainly that’s the early diagnosis, but
we’ll find out properly with X-rays.”
In addition, he might now leave the competition early
once more. He won’t be replaced by Archer, who has been travelling with the
team as the only reserve player in the vague hope that he could be deemed well
enough to play later in the competition as he continues to recover from a
chronic elbow injury.
Mott, however, has now admitted that that will not be
happening. ESPNcricinfo understands that Archer will instead leave India within
24 hours of England’s defeat. “Jof is actually not going to be considered
for selection,” Mott confirmed. “He’s come out, he’s reported to the
medical staff, but he’s not going to be able to play a part in the end of this
campaign.”