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Nigel French/EMPICS Sport
Just Not Cricket

Cracking up: Finger injury rules Morgan out of Cricket World Cup

Irishman out of the English World Cup squad as his former team-mates fall to three-wicket defeat against Kenya.

IRISHMAN EOIN MORGAN has been ruled out of England’s Cricket World Cup squad after sustaining a cracked bone in his finger.

The Dublin-born batsman picked up the injury in the fourth match of the recent one-day series against Australia, though he continued to play and to practice as he believed that the problem was not a serious issue.

It was revealed today, however, that Morgan will require minor surgery on the finger, with the 24-year-old likely to be out of action for at least two months.

A former Ireland international, the Middlesex left-hander has become a key member of England’s limited-overs squad. Since making his debut for the English senior side in May 2009, Morgan has played 61 one-day internationals , scoring 1,094 runs and four centuries in the process.

Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara has been recalled from his duties with the England Lions to replace Morgan in Andy Flower’s 15-man squad.

The side kick off their World Cup campaign when they face Holland in Nagpur on 22 February.

Meanwhile, Morgan’s former Irish team-mates continued their World Cup preparations this morning with a three-wicket defeat to Kenya in Dubai.

Ireland got off to a dreadful start, losing seven quick wickets for a total of just 57 runs.

A 59 for Sussex’s Ed Joyce was the highest score posted by the Irish batters, with Andrew White contributing 29 as Ireland struggled to 176 all out.

Despite the best efforts of the Irish bowlers, Kenya made it past the Irish target with four overs to spare, picking up 178 runs for a loss of seven wickets.

Ireland’s next warm-up match is against New Zealand on Saturday.