England's Kieswetter out of World Cup 2015

The 27-year-old South Africa-born player — who was named in England’s preliminary squad for the World Cup which gets underway in February in Australia and New Zealand — may well miss the whole of the 2015 season.

Kieswetter, who has played 46 times for the England one-day side, suffered a broken nose, a damaged eye socket and cheekbone when a ball crept through the grille of his helmet playing for his county Somerset against Northamptonshire last July.

Somerset have said Kieswetter’s long-term prognosis is unknown but he is “unlikely” to be fit for next year.

Kieswetter released a statement in which he explained his eyesight was still not 100 percent despite recently playing in South Africa’s Twenty20 competition.

“It is really disappointing but my eye is not 100% and this of course is critical in maintaining the levels of performance that I expect of myself.

“I need to make every effort to resolve the matter and have the best specialist help in that regard.”-AFP