BANGALORE, Nov 22: England bowler Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of the remainder of the One-day International series in India with a back injury.
“Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of ODI series with a small tear in right side of lower trunk,” an England statement said on Saturday.
A replacement has not been named, and the bowler will remain in India with the England Performance Programme team currently on tour of the country.
“England will not be sending for a replacement for Sidebottom at this stage. Selectors will review the position over the next 48 hours,” the statement said.
The tourists are hopeful that the swing bowler will recover in time for next month’s two Test matches.
“Ryan will remain in India with the EPP and will undergo intensive rehabilitation. His injury will be reviewed at the end of the ODI series.”
The left-armer, who missed the first three games, underwent a further scan on his lower back problem ahead of Sunday’s fourth one-dayer to determine the extent of his injury.
Sidebottom missed the first two matches due to an Achilles injury he picked up at the start of the Stanford Twenty20 competition in the Caribbean last month and underwent a scan for a back problem before the third match.
The tourists trail 3-0 in the seven-match series.
“From now every game is a final. We have to win each and every game,” England coach Peter Moores told a news conference.
The tourists are in a must-win situation after having lost the first three games of the seven-match series. “It is a big game for us. If we lose, we lose the series,” Moores said on the eve of the day/night match.
The England coach said he was hopeful the team would put in a better display, especially after a close third match in Kanpur on Thursday when the tourists lost by 16 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system due to bad light.
“I think there were lots of good things to come out of it. Bopara played well, as did Bell,” said Moores. “I am disappointed we did not get a few more runs and did not get a partnership later on, but there was no lack of effort.”—Agencies
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