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England ban football from warm-ups after Rory Burns injury

by Wisden Staff 3 minute read

The England team management have banned football from being played in training sessions.

The decree follows opener Rory Burns having his tour ended after injuring his ankle ligaments during a warm-up kickabout, one day before England’s second Test against South Africa at Cape Town.

Jonny Bairstow is another to have been ruled out of England action by a football injury, missing the start of England’s 2018 Test series against Sri Lanka with a twisted ankle, while Ollie Pope was lucky to avoid a similar fate after getting clattered by Matt Parkinson the day before the Burns injury.

Rory Burns has been ruled out of England’s Test series against South Africa with a football injury

Ashely Giles, the ECB’s director of cricket, has long made his displeasure of the beautiful game clear. “If you look at what football does, the benefits from a psychological and fun point of view are outstripped by the dangers from it,” he said when taking up his current role.

The ECB have reportedly denied they have disallowed all counties from warming up by playing football, saying that’s a decision for the counties themselves to make. They are yet to name a replacement for Burns in the squad.

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