Big Topley will be giant loss as Mills called up
ENGLAND STAR OUT FOR OP ON FIELDING-DRILL INJURY
TYMAL MILLS has been drafted in to England’s T20 World Cup squad at the 11th hour ahead of their opening game this Saturday, after Reece Topley flew home for ankle surgery.
England’s worst fears about Topley’s injury, sustained in a fielding drill on Monday, have been confirmed, with the left-arm seamer suffering two ruptured ligaments in his left ankle.
It is a second major blow for Jos Buttler’s squad, following the freak golfing injury to opening batsman Jonny Bairstow which last month ruled him out of the tournament.
Mills, above, who was himself injured in last year’s World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and replaced by Topley, was one of England’s three travelling reserves.
And while he has not played since picking up a toe injury in The Hundred in August, his left-arm delivery makes him the closest likefor-like replacement available.
Despite an injury-studded record Mills has credit in the bank with England, and performed well in the UAE, taking seven wickets in four matches before he was ruled out.
Another left-armer, Luke Wood is taking Mills’ place as travelling reserve, and will be joining the squad shortly.
Losing Topley is a blow that Buttler could have done without, given the 6ft-7in bowler’s outstanding form in white-ball cricket over the summer. But England’s captain has at least been boosted by the return to fitness of all-rounder Liam Livingstone, another man key to his side’s hopes. Livingstone suffered his own ankle-ligament damage when slipping off a kerb in late August, but made his return in England’s final warm-up against Pakistan in Brisbane on Monday.
And he confirmed that his eye had not been affected, with a 16-ball 28 which included a monstrous six battered right out of the Gabba.
“I’ve done everything I can to make sure I’m fit and available for Saturday against Afghanistan,” Livingstone said. “I’m happy with where I’m at, and we’ve still got another few days before the game.” Livingstone had a nervy moment during his innings on Monday, when slipping as he turned for a second run. But the big-hitting Cumbrian insisted it has only helped fill him with confidence going into the tournament. He said: “My batting’s been fine since I started back to cricket – but the turning and stuff was going to be difficult, so to have a slip and feel all right is a confidence booster.
“I’ve still got some work to do batting-wise, but I’m close to where I want to be.”
Livingstone chipped in with 1-8 from two overs of leg spin against Pakistan and if England’s selectors are pondering over just one spot for either him or Harry Brook, the bowling might swing it his way for the opener in two days’ time.
Livingstone insisted whoever gets the nod will be up to the job.
“Brooky is a phenomenal player and everybody is happy he’s come into this squad and added a lot of value,” he added.
“We’ve a lot of talent in our team, lot of match-winners – whatever combination we go with everybody will be putting their best foot forward
to win games.”