Jos Buttler’s England won the toss and chose to bowl first against South Africa in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Match 20, held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Aiden Markram led the South African side in the absence of regular skipper Temba Bavuma, who was sidelined due to illness.
England, with two losses in three games, faced a brutal defeat against New Zealand, followed by a win over Bangladesh and an unexpected loss to Afghanistan. Having had a long break, England is under significant pressure. South Africa, despite a wake-up call defeat to the Netherlands, secured two crucial wins and aims to continue improving in the tournament.
Reece Topley Injury
In a concerning turn of events during the match, England’s Reece Topley sustained an injury to his left hand. This unfortunate incident occurred when Topley attempted to field a powerful drive by Rassie van der Dussen. While trying to stop the ball, it flicked one of his nails, causing visible discomfort and pain. As a result of the injury, Topley had to leave the field, unable to continue his spell.
The physiotherapist promptly made his way onto the field to assess the extent of the injury. Topley’s condition raised concerns, especially given his history of injuries. In the ongoing tournament, Topley has been a pivotal figure in England’s fast-bowling department, and his absence could be a significant setback for the team. It remains to be seen how this injury might affect his further participation in the competition and England’s campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup. Reece Topley’s frustration boiled over as he threw a chair, shattering a dressing room window pane. A viral picture captured this moment of intense anger.
Reece Topley made a dream start, grabbing an early wicket by inducing a thick outside edge from Quinton de Kock’s bat, caught by Jos Buttler. However, his promising spell was cut short as he had to exit the field due to injury just a few overs later.
