The Hundred 2022: Reece Topley Pulls Out Of The Tournament To Avoid Injury Scare Ahead Of T20 World Cup

England pace bowler Reece Topley has pulled out of the final two weeks of The Hundred to keep himself fit for the T20 World Cup in October. 

Topley made a vociferous statement during this summer as he displayed outstanding performances for England in limited-overs formats. The left-arm quick claimed 17 wickets in 10 games against India and South Africa. 

Reece Topley takes precautions to avoid injury

Playing for the Sam Billings-led Oval Invincibles in the ongoing men’s Hundred 2022, Topley has picked five wickets in four games with 3/24 against Southern Brave being his best figures in the tournament.

In order to ensure his availability for England in the T20 World Cup 2022 Down Under, the Surrey fast bowler decided to take a short break from The Hundred. 

“Taking a short break feels like a sensible precaution to avoid injury and the risk of a longer lay-off. Nonetheless, I am disappointed not to be contributing as the team enters a crucial period in the competition,” Topley said in a statement issued by Oval Invincibles, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

My priority is to be available for selection for the World Cup: Reece Topley 

England will play seven T20I matches against Pakistan in their backyard in late September and will follow it with three more T20Is against Australia just before the mega event in October. 

Topley missed a couple of games for Invincibles against Welsh Fire and Birmingham Phoenix to relax his body. The England pacer by hook or crook doesn’t want to miss his chances of playing in the T20 World Cup 2022. 

“Obviously there’s a lot of chat about the schedule and to be honest, for me to play as much as I have this summer and try to get to October fully fit probably isn’t sustainable,” Topley told ESPNcricinfo.

“I’m having to box smart with where I play and not necessarily go for broke at this point in the season. My priority is to be available for selection for the World Cup and I’m doing everything in my power to be available. If that means missing games here and there, so be it,” he added.

Invincibles will also lose out on the services of their overseas players Sunil Narine and Mohammad Hasnain. Narine will return to West Indies to join Trinbago Knight Riders for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022.

Hasnain has been named as the replacement for injured Shaheen Afridi in Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad. 

Australian spinner Peter Hatzoglou will replace Narine but Hasnain’s replacement is yet to be confirmed. 

Also Read: ENG vs IND: I’m Expecting A Pretty Good Atmosphere In Manchester, Almost Like An Away Game Really: Reece Topley