Bairstow’s TEE-Twenty agony! England’s in-form batsman is OUT of the T20 World Cup after slipping on the golf course
- Jonny Bairstow suffered a freak lower leg injury on the golf course on Friday
- The batter has been ruled out of England’s T20 World Cup squad next month
- Ben Duckett has been called up for next week’s final Test against South Africa
- Harry Brook will almost certainly make his debut having shown impressive form
England were dealt a cruel blow on Friday when Jonny Bairstow was ruled out for the rest of the year after breaking his left leg in a freak accident on the golf course.
Bairstow, England’s Test player of the year so far, slipped while walking to a tee box at his local course near Leeds and will miss next week’s third Test against South Africa, the Twenty20 World Cup and the three-Test series in Pakistan in December.
Only yesterday Rob Key, England’s managing director, was saying that Bairstow would open the batting at the World Cup in Australia next month in place of the dropped Jason Roy.
England batter Jonny Bairstow has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a lower leg injury
Bairstow took to social media to rule himself out of the ‘all games in the immediate future’
But this extraordinary blow increases the chances of a T20 recall for the ostracised Alex Hales.
Ben Duckett has been called up for next week’s decider against South Africa but Harry Brook will almost certainly make his debut.
A further announcement is expected in due course on who will replace the Yorkshireman at the T20 World Cup.
Bairstow had been one of England’s stars with the bat this summer having scored four centuries in five innings under new coach Brendon McCullum.
‘Unfortunately I’m going to be unavailable for all games and tours for the immediate future,’ Bairstow said on Instagram.
‘I have injured my lower leg in a freak accident and it needs an operation. ‘I’m absolutely gutted.’
It is believed that the batsman slipped whilst walking to a tee box, causing a fracture in his left leg.
The injury could well see Bairstow miss England’s tour of Pakistan in December.
Ben Duckett has instead been called up for next week’s Test decider against South Africa
An ECB statement read: ‘Bairstow sustained a lower limb injury in a freak accident whilst playing golf on Friday in Leeds. He will see a specialist next week to ascertain the full extent of the injury.
‘Nottinghamshire batter Ben Duckett has been added to the Test squad for the LV= Insurance third Test at the Kia Oval starting next Thursday.
‘A further announcement will be made in due course on who will replace Bairstow in England’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad.’
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