England face seamer dilemma ahead of T20 World Cup opener

GEORGE DOBELL IN PERTH: England will certainly be without Reece Topley but could also be missing Chris Woakes when they face Afghanistan on Saturday

England look set to be without either of their first choice opening bowlers for the start of the men's T20 World Cup.

England start their campaign in Perth on Saturday with a game against Afghanistan. But they will certainly be without Reece Topley, who is returning to the UK on Saturday to assess whether he requires surgery on the ankle ligaments her injured in training, and they are also likely to be without Chris Woakes, who looks unlikely to be risked after reporting from stiffness in his quad muscles.

While Woakes did train with the rest of the squad on Friday, he appeared to undergo a fitness test at the start of the session and has been operating below full pace in the nets. Although England captain, Jos Buttler, insisted Woakes was "feeling good", he went on to suggest that no risks would be taken with him.

"He's obviously a key player for us," Buttler said. "And not somebody you'd take a big risk on. I think he's feeling good and will take a full part in training today and hopefully pull up well."

With Topley and Woakes set to miss out, England are going to have to rethink their bowling plans. The pair would, almost certainly, have opened the bowling with Topley, who also bowled the fifth or sixth overs and the 19th an especially tough man to replace.

As things stand, it appears David Willey may be the beneficiary of Woakes' absence and he could share the new ball with Ben Stokes on the basis that both bowlers can generate swing.

^{Reece Topley is out of the World Cup after injuring his ankle (Trevor Collens/AFP via Getty Images)}

But it is the death bowling that remains more problematic. Sam Curran may well bowl two overs at the death, but without Woakes and Topley, England are lacking in options.

For that reason, they may be tempted to bring in Chris Jordan instead of one of the middle-order batters, Harry Brook or Liam Livingstone. Jordan, who has fulfilled the role of death bowler for England for several years in T20 cricket, struggled a little in the game against Australia in Canberra (he conceded 39 from three overs) and seemed to have slipped down the pecking order.

But given the injury issues that England have, he could well win a reprieve. Livingstone, who has only played one match since suffering an ankle injury in August, would be the most likely to miss out.

Tymal Mills, who has been drafted into the squad as an injury replacement for Topley and is bowling well in the nets, was also seen making his run-up at the Optus Stadium but, having not played a match since August, is not expected to play.

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