“He will return to England on Saturday and will see a hand surgeon next week”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

England opening batsman Alex Hales will take no further part in the ongoing limited overs series against India due to a fractured right hand.

Hales suffered the injury while diving in an attempt to take a catch to dismiss India batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the second ODI in Cuttack on Thursday.

Even though Hales managed to open the batting for England, he will be sidelined for the third and final ODI, and the three-match Twenty20 series that follows.

“Hales sustained the injury attempting a catch in the outfield and jarred his hand on the ground,” an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement said. “He will return to England on Saturday and will see a hand surgeon next week.

“England will announce Hales’ replacement in the IT20 squad for the three-match series against India, starting on 26 January, in due course.”

Hales will now have just over a month to recover as England’s next limited overs assignment will be against the West Indies on March 3.

England will be searching for a consolation win in the third ODI in Kolkata on Sunday as India already hold an unassailable 2-0 lead.