England batsman Joe Root has been ruled out of the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup due to a fractured thumb.

Ian Bell has been called up to the squad as a replacement for the 23-year-old.

Root suffered the injury during the team's one-day international win over the West Indies last Wednesday.

He will now fly back to England on Thursday before undergoing a scan.

England get their Twenty20 World Cup campaign underway against New Zealand on March 22 after playing two more warm-up games against the West Indies.

Written by
Jack Prescott