Rory Burns out of South Africa series after injuring ankle ligaments playing football at Newlands

Burns was taking part in a warm-up kickabout ahead of practice when he suffered the problem, and was seen being helped up stairs towards the England dressing room

• Latest England news
• Race relations must not be forgotten as South Africa prepare for second Test

England's nightmare tour of South Africa took a further twist on Thursday after Rory Burns was ruled out for the remainder of the series because of an ankle injury sustained while playing football in Cape Town.

Burns was taking part in a warm-up kickabout ahead of practice at Newlands when he suffered the problem, and was seen being helped up stairs towards the dressing room.

England later said that their opener has picked up the niggle after kicking the ground.

He was sent for further assessment, and a scan subsequently showed enough damage to his left ankle to not only rule him out of the second Test - which is due to begin on Friday - but the following two matches as well.

Burns, who scored 84 in the second innings of the first-Test defeat at Centurion last week, will return to the UK for treatment.

Zak Crawley could now be in line for a late call-up to partner Dom Sibley at the top of the England order, though the tourists will not name their line-up until the toss on Friday.

The developments come little more than a year after Jonny Bairstow was injured in similar fashion in Sri Lanka.

England's director of men's cricket, Ashley Giles, is an opponent of football being played in warm-ups and banned the practice at Warwickshire and Lancashire.

^{Rory Burns has suffered an ankle injury}

So far, Giles has resisted the urge to do likewise with the national team but it remains to be seen whether the incident involving Burns will change his mind.

After the virus which ran through the England squad, Burns' ankle trouble is not the only concern for the visitors ahead of the second Test.

Jofra Archer is also unlikely to feature in the match because on an elbow issue.

The extent of the injury to Archer's right arm is still being determined by the England medics after the fast bowler underwent a scan. 

"Everything is on the table as it stands. I think it’s a recurring injury, something that he has had before. He did pull up very sore. He had a little trundle after our fielding practice and seemed to be in a bit of pain," captain Joe Root said.

"That is something you want to manage in a young talent like Jofra, making sure that we don’t blow him out for six months and make sure we get the most out of him for as long as we can. 

"It’s important to weigh everything up, see what the scan says, how he pulls up today and go from there. You look at his short career and he has had big impacts on a lot of moments. Of course, he will be a big loss if he is not able to play."

Mark Wood and Jack Leach have already been deemed not fit enough to take part as they recover from illness.

VAR = Very Anxious Root 😱

England opener Rory Burns is an injury doubt for the second #SAvENG Test after this ⚽ challenge from his skipper... 💥

Join us from 7.30am on Friday on Sky Sports Cricket 📺

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 2, 2020