The left-armer ruptured ankle ligaments on Monday (October 17) and will return to the UK for surgery. Tymal Mills will join the squad as his replacement
England have lost Reece Topley for their men's T20 World Cup campaign.
The Surrey left-armer rolled his left ankle during catching practice before the warm-up win over Pakistan on Monday (October 17).
But it has emerged that Topley has ruptured two of the three ligaments in the area and will miss the entire campaign, which starts against Afghanistan on Saturday (October 22).
Topley, who has endured his fair share of injury problems including multiple stress fractures in his back, will return to the United Kingdom immediately for surgery.
Fellow left-armer Tymal Mills, who travelled to Australia as a reserve, has been named as his replacement. Luke Wood will take his place in the reserves, joining Lancashire teammate Richard Gleeson and spinner Liam Dawson.
Tymal Mills will replace him in England's squad [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]
The news is the latest injury blow to England's attempts to add the T20 World Cup to their 50-over crown.
Jonny Bairstow and Jofra Archer are already absent, while Saqib Mahmood is still recovering from a stress fracture.
The latest setback for Topley in a career beset by fitness issues occurred during catching practice in Brisbane when he landed on the boundary padding and went over.
Last week saw the 28-year-old, formerly of Essex, Hampshire and Sussex, handed a first England central contract, an incremental deal, for 2022/23.
It leaves captain Jos Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott with a dilemma over their first XI. Topley, England's leading T20I wicket-taker in 2022 with 17, was set to take the new ball and bowl at the death but that responsibility will now go elsewhere.
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