England lose opening bowler for rest of the tournament
Digital Daily with former England captain Nasser Hussain and ICC Digital Insider Tanvi Shah looks at South Africa's emphatic victory over England at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023
Topley was struck on the finger midway through the opening powerplay of the first innings at the Wankhede Stadium and left the field of play for immediate treatment.
The left-arm seamer returned with heavy strapping to bowl again for England at the death, but struggled to hold the ball with his broken index finger and was part of a bowling attack that were dismantled by Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen.
South Africa were at their very best in Mumbai, and beat defending champions, England by a margin of 229 runs.
And the England Cricket Board have confirmed the news that: “scans in Mumbai on Saturday, after the match at the Wankhede Stadium, revealed the full extent of the injury. Topley will return to the UK in the next 24 hours.”
England are yet to have confirmed their choice of replacement, with an announcement set to come “in due course”.
Reece Topley struck in the very first over to remove the dangerous Quinton de Kock for merely four.
But coach Matthew Mott has played down suggestions that Jofra Archer could be the bowler to come in, with the 28-year-old currently travelling with the England squad as he continues his injury rehabilitation.
"Jofra is not going to be considered for selection," Mott told Sky Sports.
"He's come out and 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."
Fast bowlers Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts and George Scrimshaw all featured for England in ODIs during the build-up to the tournament and are likely to be in contention for selection, while Rehan Ahmed could be in contention if England opt for a spin replacement, with Jason Roy and Ben Duckett the likeliest contenders should the England selectors instead decide to call up an extra batter.
Topley’s injury is the latest setback for a player who has been beset by fitness misfortune.
The tall left-armer overcame the setback of four stress fractures in his back in five years only to miss England’s successful T20 World Cup campaign last year after rupturing his ankle ligaments when tripping over a boundary sponge.
And this latest injury means that the 29-year-old will play no further part in England’s campaign in India, with Jos Buttler’s side needing a huge finish if they are to recover from three defeats in their opening four matches.