Wright out of Aus series, doubtful for Champions Trophy

Nottingham:

Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright was ruled out Wednesday for the remaining two games of England's one-day series against Australia and is now doubtful for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Wright sustained an injury to the big toe of his left foot while batting in the nets against a bowling machine at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough, central England, on Monday.

He was subsequently ruled out of Tuesday's four-wicket loss to Australia in a day/nighter at Trent Bridge, a result that left England 5-0 down in their seven-match series against the world champions, with his place taken by late call-up Dimitri Mascarenhas, the Hampshire captain.

Wright has now been declared unfit for Thursday's sixth one-day international, another day/night clash at Trent Bridge, and Sunday's series finale at north-east county Durham's Chester-le-Street base.

An England spokesman said Wednesday that Wright's availability for the Champions Trophy in South Africa, where England's opener against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg on September 25 is just over a week away, would be made after the end of the Australia series.

However, that leaves England with not much time to select a replacement should they decide to bring in someone from outside their current squad.

England are already resigned to being without star men Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen at the Champions Trophy because of knee and Achilles tendon injuries respectively.