Wright's freak injury adds to England's woes

Luke Wright became the latest England cricketer to sustain an unusual injury after a ball from a bowling machine struck his toe and left him doubtful for Tuesday's one-dayer against Australia. Wright was batting in the indoor nets at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough, central England, when he was hit on the toe by a ball from the machine and had to have stitches inserted into the injury.

The all-rounder will now be assessed ahead of Tuesday's day/nighter at Trent Bridge in Nottingham where England, already 4-0 down with three to play, will try to win their first match of the one-day international series.

An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman announced later on Monday that Hampshire all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas had been added to the squad as cover for Wright.

LONDON, AFP