11 March,2015 12:15 PM IST | | AFP
England all-rounders Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali have both been ruled out of the team's final match at the World Cup, against Afghanistan, officials announced Wednesday
Chris Woakes
Sydney: England all-rounders Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali have both been ruled out of the team's final match at the World Cup, against Afghanistan, officials announced Wednesday.
Woakes, a lower middle-order batsman and pace bowler, has a left foot injury that became apparent running between the wickets making 42 not out during England's 15-run defeat by Bangladesh in Adelaide on Monday.
Chris Woakes. Pic/ AFP
Meanwhile off-spinner and opening batsman Ali suffered a side strain while bowling in the same match. "Scans revealed Chris Woakes has a left third metatarsal stress reaction and Moeen Ali has a left sided abdominal strain," said a statement issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"Both players have been ruled out of the match against Afghanistan on Friday and will be reassessed when the team returns to the UK."
The pair's injuries increased the chances of off-spinner James Tredwell and all-rounder Ravi Bopara, yet to feature at the tournament, playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground against non-Test side Afghanistan, who are making their tournament debut.
Monday's defeat meant England could no longer qualify for the quarter-finals, having been thrashed by Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in previous Pool A matches, with their lone win so far coming against non-Test nation Scotland.
