Rankin to miss Sri Lanka tour due to foot injury

Fast bowler Boyd Rankin has been forced to pull out of Ireland's tour to Sri Lanka, after being diagnosed with a stress fracture to his right foot. Civil Service North allrounder Nigel Jones has been called up as his replacement.

Rankin, 25, said, "I am wearing a protective cast. It's not broken but it needs to be rested for four or five days. It was picked up by the physios and doctors at an ECB training camp in Loughborough earlier this week.

"We'll see where we are then depending on how sore it is. I've been told it could take between two or three weeks to fully heal, but we'll know more when I get it checked out again next week at Warwickshire, where I'll be doing my rehabilitation.''

Ireland will begin their tour with a four-day Intercontinental Cup fixture against Afghanistan from January 21-24, before taking part in a Twenty20 tournament, also featuring Sri Lanka A and Canada.