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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
James Whaling

England dealt World Cup injury scare as Mark Wood limps out of Australia warm-up

England have been dealt an injury scare ahead of their World Cup opener against South Africa on Thursday.

Eoin Morgan's men, skippered by Jos Buttler as the Middlesex batsman is rested, are playing a warm-up match against Australia in Southampton.

Durham quick Mark Wood opened the bowling and took the early scalp of Aaron Finch - but he limped off with what a problem in his left foot after one ball of his fourth over.

An ECB statement on Wood said: “Mark Wood has some left foot discomfort he will continue to spend some time with the medical team before a decision is made on whether he will return to the match.”

He was replaced as a substitute fielder by Jofra Archer, who was also forced from the field after a diving stop on the boundary.

Wood had earlier taken the wicket of Aaron Finch (Action Images via Reuters)

That meant former England batsman Paul Collingwood, 42, who retired from playing last year, briefly deputised in the outfield, but Archer did return.

Liam Dawson was also hurt, with England confirming he split the skin on his right ring finger and will not bat in England's innings.

If Wood is ruled out of the tournament, it will likely mean a reprieve and call-up for Yorkshire's David Willey, omitted from the 15-man squad despite playing a key role in England's one-day revival.

Willey was the fall guy of a settled bowling unit due to the emergence and subsequent availability of Archer due to a change in eligibility regulations.

Archer was also forced from the field (PA)

Wood, 29, has been dogged by injury problems over the last few years restricting him to 13 Test and 41 ODI appearances for England.

It is a second scare in the space of a few days for England after Morgan suffered a small fracture in his finger in training on Friday.

There were fears the captain could miss the start of the tournament, but he will be ready when the hosts face South Africa at The Oval on Thursday to kick off the competition.

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