BURNS OUT FOR SERIES
Opener injures ankle playing football as cursed tour claims another victim
ENGLAND’S cursed tour of South Africa was rocked by another body blow last night after Rory Burns was ruled out for the series – after injuring himself playing football.
Burns is flying home for treatment after scans showed he had suffered ankle ligament damage before practice ahead of today’s second Test here. The England opener turned his left ankle while taking a shot in yesterday’s warm-up session. And the news that an England cricketer will once again
miss matches due to football will anger managing director Ashley Giles, who is anything but a fan of using the game to prepare.
This will be the last straw for Giles, who saw Jonny Bairstow limp away from a game of football in Sri Lanka in 2018 and then miss a Test as a result.
Yesterday, under pressure from Joe Root tracking back, Burns landed awkwardly after shooting and began to hobble immediately.
He moved around gingerly for a moment or two before collapsing to the floor to remove his boot and be seen by the team doctor.
Burns – England’s top scorer in the first Test defeat – was left wincing in agony and had to be carried off the field and up to the dressing room.
The 29-year-old then had the worst possible news confirmed following his scan. His tour is over with three Test matches still left in the series.
England might have been expected to be more careful after the football curse gave them an early warning on Wednesday. Matt
Parkinson inflicted a cut leg on Ollie Pope – which led to a sharp exchange of words – during a full-blooded kickabout.
Now Burns’ injury is the latest setback during a tour which has also been hit by a sickness bug in the camp.
Rookie Kent opener
Zak Crawley is set to be asked to resume his Test career after making his debut against New Zealand in November. Crawley, 21, would open alongside Dom Sibley with Joe Denly staying at three.
Ben Stokes described this trip as “The Cursed Tour” before the team had even arrived in Cape Town following so much misfortune. England also have major doubts over Jofra Archer, the leading bowler from Centurion.
Fresh from his 5-102, Archer, above, complained of a sore elbow before training here and was unable to bowl.
Dom Bess appears to be the favourite to replace him as England look to play a spinner on what is a dry surface.
“It has been one of those tours I’m afraid,” said skipper Root. “Everything’s on the table in terms of selection.”