Twenty20 World Cup | Bairstow misses T20 World Cup with freak golf injury

England batsman Jonny Bairstow has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup after suffering a freak leg injury while playing golf on Friday.

Just hours after England’s squad was selected, Bairstow was ruled out of the tournament and the rest of the domestic season, including next week’s third Test against South Africa at The Oval.

“Unfortunately I will not be available for all games/tours in the immediate future,” Bairstow wrote on Instagram. “The reason is that I injured my lower leg in a freak accident and it required an operation.

“The injury occurred this morning when I slipped on the golf course. I’m brave and wish everyone the best of luck at the Oval this week and best wishes in advance to the boys heading to Australia for the T20 World Cup. Totally burnt! I’ll be back.” The England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement that Bairstow will see a specialist next week about the injury “to be absolutely sure”. The player is also the highest run-getter in Test cricket this year.

A replacement squad has not been selected for next month’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

Nottinghamshire’s Ben Duckett has been called into the squad for the third Test against South Africa.

Veteran opener Jason Roy has been left out of the T20 World Cup squad but could return to action with Bairstow out.

Roy had a bad summer with England and at The Hundred, averaging 8.5 and three ducks in six innings for the Oval Invincibles.

Fast bowlers Mark Wood and Chris Woakes have been included in the 15-man squad, although they were last on the tour of the West Indies in March.

The T20 World Cup will start on October 16.

England will take 19 players for a seven-match T20 series in Pakistan this month – its first tour of the country since 2005 – before traveling to Australia.

Captain Jos Buttler will lead the trip, but his calf injury is likely to sideline him for the opening stages of the Pakistan series. Moeen Ali will be the captain for those games.

England: Jos Buttler (Captain), Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, David Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.