Ravi Bopara has been ruled out of the ICC World Twenty20 after dislocating and fracturing his right thumb during the fifth one-day international against India, at Headingley, Sunday, reports Cricinfo.
He picked up the injury trying to take a return catch off Gautam Gambhir and immediately left the field one ball into his second over. He batted with the aid of a painkilling injection, but with a rapid turnover between the one-day series and the Twenty20 there was little chance of him recovering.
England will be able to name a replacement with Dimitri Mascarenhas probably topping the list as a like-for-like swap for Bopara. His availability for the five-match one-day series in Sri Lanka, starting on October 1, is still uncertain.
"Four to six weeks is the medical prediction - which falls around about the one-day tournament," said England chairman of selectors David Graveney. "It's an injury to his bowling hand, bottom hand batting-wise. But let's not be pessimistic; let's hope it recovers quickly.
"It's desperately disappointing for him to miss out on a trip to South Africa. He's definitely out of Twenty20 - but there are possibilities he will be available for the one-dayers in Sri Lanka."
There are also continued concerns over Andrew Flintoff, who missed the Headingley match after experiencing soreness in his left ankle. He is a doubt for Wednesday's clash at The Oval, and therefore his place at the Twenty20 must also be in jeopardy.
Bopara ruled out of Twenty20
FE Team | Published: September 05, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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