The series already out of their grasp, a struggling England were dealt a big jolt today after middle-order mainstay Ian Bell was ruled out of the fifth and final ODI of the five-match series against India here on Friday due to a broken toe.
"England and Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell has been ruled out of the final Royal London one-day international against India on Friday with a small fracture to his left big toe sustained yesterday before the one-day international at Edgbaston," the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement in its website.
"Bell will not be replaced in the squad for the remaining match," it added.
England were initially planning to assess Bell's injury in tomorrow's practice session, but have decided already he will not recover in time to play on Friday.
Bell sustained the injury after he was hit on the left big toe while facing throw-downs in practice drills before yesterday's nine-wicket defeat against India at Edgbaston. He was replaced by Gary Ballance in the fourth ODI.
India defeated England by nine wickets in Birmingham yesterday to take an invincible 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
