Reece Topley has been ruled out of the rest of England’s 2023 World Cup campaign after sustaining a fracture to his left index finger in their defeat to South Africa yesterday (October 21).
Topley was hit on the offending finger while trying to hit Rassie van der Dussen’s straight drive with his own bowling. After he parried the blow, he received treatment on the field and attempted to continue with the over. The next ball he threw went far, giving Van der Dussen four more hits, after which Topley left the pitch for further treatment. Joe Root bowled the remaining balls of his seventh over of the game.
After being away from the field for quite some time, Topley returned to the game after 30 overs with his finger in a splint. He returned to bowling in the 35th over and took the wicket of Aiden Markram and dismissed David Miller in the next over as well. However, after England collapsed just as they were chasing 400, with the ninth wicket out for 170, Topley was unable to come into bat and the match ended.
England head coach Matthew Mott said of Topley’s injury in the post-match interview: Granted, that’s the initial diagnosis, but we’ll know for sure when we get his x-rays done in Reese. ”
After scans confirmed the early diagnosis, Ms Topley will return to the UK and work closely with medical teams in Surrey and England to begin her rehabilitation. In three innings he took eight wickets and he is currently England’s top wicket-taker in this tournament.
It goes from bad to worse for England…
Reece Topley has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2023 World Cup due to a broken finger.
Topley is England’s top wicket-taker in the tournament so far with eight wickets in three matches. #CWC23 pic. twitter.com/nDZ3F8Loyu
– Wisden (@WisdenCricket) 22. October 2023
England have yet to name a replacement for Topley in their squad, but after the game against South Africa, manager Mott confirmed that Jofra Archer was not considered for selection, although he was included as a substitute in India.
England’s next match of the tournament will be against Sri Lanka on Thursday 26th October.
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