Injured Luke Wright ruled out of World T20

 
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Rory Dollard22 March 2014

England have been forced to make a third change to their World Twenty20 squad, calling up Craig Kieswetter to replace the injured Luke Wright.

Wright, who has been carrying a right side strain since arriving in Bangladesh, was ruled out on Saturday morning - just hours before England's Group 1 opener against New Zealand.

He joins Joe Root (broken thumb) and Ben Stokes (broken wrist) in missing the tournament, hampering England's bleak prospects further.

Kieswetter, a key part of England's surprise 2010 success in the same competition, is expected to arrive in Chittagong on Monday and should be available for the three remaining Super 10 matches.

Wright had appeared set for a big role in the competition when he enjoyed a prolific spell with Melborne Stars in the Big Bash League, scoring 275 and becoming the only non-Australian to earn a player-of-the-tournament nomination.

But his return to England colours has proved a damp squib, scoring one, nought, nought and seven not out in two one-day and two T20 appearances on the tour of West Indies.

Kieswetter, who made the last of his 25 appearances in the format in September 2012 during the previous World Twenty20, was also involved in the BBL with Brisbane Heat.

Any squad changes must be approved by the International Cricket Council's technical committee, which confirmed: "The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 has approved Craig Kieswetter as a replacement player for Luke Wright in the England men's squad for the tournament, which runs until 6 April.

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"Wright has a right side strain and, therefore, has been ruled out of the tournament."

Wright wrote on his Twitter account: "Absolutely gutted to be leaving the World Cup injured. Hard to take but silver lining is I will now be at the birth of my second child."

Wright had appeared set for a big role in the competition when he enjoyed a prolific spell with Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, scoring 275 and becoming the only non-Australian to earn a player-of-the-tournament nomination.

But his return to England colours has proved a damp squib, scoring one, nought, nought and seven not out in two one-day and two T20 appearances on the tour of West Indies.

Kieswetter, who made the last of his 25 appearances in the format in September 2012 during the previous World Twenty20, was also involved in the BBL with Brisbane Heat.

Any squad changes must be approved by the International Cricket Council's technical committee, which confirmed: "The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 has approved Craig Kieswetter as a replacement player for Luke Wright in the England men's squad for the tournament, which runs until 6 April.

"Wright has a right side strain and, therefore, has been ruled out of the tournament."

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