Graeme Swann quits tour to be fit for World Cup

Swann is flying home after he was ruled out for the rest of the seven-match one-day international series, which England trail 3-0, due to a lower back strain.

The 31-year-old is the second England bowler to leave the tour in the space of three days after a calf injury ended Tim Bresnan's involvement in the series.

While both are expected to recover in time for England's World Cup opener against Holland on 22 February, they are set to go into the tournament short on game time.

Swann's next match will now not be until the group stages as he will stay with his pregnant wife and not fly to the sub-continent until the eve of the tournament.

Bresnan will also face a race against time to take part in the warm-up games against Canada and Pakistan on 16 and 18 February. Those matches are also likely to be the first time Stuart Broad bowls competitively for more than two months as he continues his recovery from a stomach injury suffered during the Ashes.

The right-armer rejoined the squad in Australia at the weekend but has been restricted to gentle bowling in the nets.

James Anderson will be the only front-liner available in the remaining four matches against Australia. Anderson is set to return to action in today's fourth one-day international in Adelaide after his three-week break after the Ashes - a rest period that has proved invaluable given the current injury crisis.

It is a situation to concern team director Andy Flower who, after being without Swann in the previous two games, decided to send him home to allow him to prepare for a sub-continental World Cup, where the world's top-ranked spinner is set to play a significant role.

"It is best for him to go home and get ready for the World Cup," Flower said.

"It is a big blow because he is an important part of our side.He is a world-class performer and he is full of confidence after the Ashes, but these things happen.

"We are coming towards the end of a long, hard tour and certainly the physical challenges are starting to take their toll."

Swann said: "It's frustrating but the priority for me now is the World Cup."

Kevin Pietersen has been cleared to return after missing Sunday's game in Sydney with a groin problem.

Pietersen is set to return to a batting line-up that has faltered in the past two games after being bowled out for 184 and 214.

Despite that Flower said he was unlikely to tinker with the batting line-up yet with Matt Prior set to remain at the top of the order despite making back-to-back ducks in his two games since his surprise World Cup call-up.

Flower also hinted that Paul Collingwood was set to keep his place despite scoring just one on his recall in Sydney following a poor tour with the bat.

Collingwood was dropped for the previous two games, although, with the bowling attack down to the bare bones, his medium pace provides an option.