Morgan ruled out of World Cup

London - England batsman Eoin Morgan has been ruled out of the World Cup with a broken finger, coach Andy Flower told a news conference here on Tuesday.

Left-hander Morgan's place in England's 15-man World Cup squad will be taken by Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara.

Former Ireland international Morgan missed England's final one-day international (ODI) against Australia in Perth on Sunday with the injury, a farcatured middle finger of his left hand, which he suffered in the fourth ODI in Adelaide last month.

"Eoin Morgan won't be going to the World Cup," Flower said. "He needs to be operated on. That's a serious loss.

"But Ravi Bopara, who is an exciting young cricketer in his own right, will be joining us."

Although he endured a tough tour of Australia, failing to break into the Test side and then struggling for form in the ODIs, which the tourists lost 6-1, Morgan's innovative middle-order batting was considered crucial to England's World Cup hopes.

The 24-year-old has played 61 ODIs, scoring 1 094 runs at an average of 38.08, and at an impressive strike-rate of 81.19, including four centuries.