/ 12 November 2008

India, England hit by injuries ahead of ODI series

Pace bowlers Ishant Sharma of India and Ryan Sidebottom of England will miss Friday’s opening match of the seven-game one-day series in Rajkot due to injuries.

Sharma (20) suffered an ankle sprain during the recent Test series against Australia and has been advised to rest for five days, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement.

The lanky fast bowler was judged the man of the series for his 15 wickets as India took the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-0 win over Ricky Ponting’s world champions.

Left-armer Sidebottom will sit out the opener due to an Achilles tendon problem picked up during England’s brief tour of the West Indies earlier this month.

England were, however, hopeful that paceman Stuart Broad will play in Rajkot after suffering a knee injury during a practice match in Mumbai on Sunday.

The series, which ends on December 2, will be followed by two Test matches in Ahmedabad (December 11 to 15) and Mumbai (December 19 to 23). — Sapa-AFP