England's Sidebottom out of the fourth ODI with back injury

Bangalore: England bowler Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of today's fourth one-dayer against India with a back injury.

The left-arm swing bowler underwent a further scan on his lower back problem to determine the extent of his injury and the reports have been sent to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), said coach Peter Moores.

"He is definitely not playing (today's) game. We are hoping he will somehow get fit for the later part of the (one-day) series or for the test series," he said.

Sidebottom missed the first two matches due to an Achilles injury he picked up at the start of the Stanford Twenty20 competition in the Caribbean last month and underwent a scan for a back problem before the third match.

The tourists trail 3-0 in the seven-match series.

"From now every game is a final. We have to win each and every game," Moores said.

Improved batting

The coach was hopeful of an England recovery following an improved batting display in the third game - a 16-run defeat on the Duckworth-Lewis rule on Thursday.

Makeshift opener Ravi Bopara scored 60 and provided a 79-run start with Ian Bell (46).

"I thought there were lots of good things to come out of it. Ravi Bopara up the top played well, as did Ian Bell, and it was a good opening stand.

"I'm disappointed we didn't push on and get a few more.

"It was a tough wicket and we didn't get that partnership later on. It looked like someone was going to go and then we lost a wicket and that is something we have to look at, but there was no lack of effort."

The weather could again have an impact as the area has been hit by a persistent drizzle.

Bad light caused play to be stopped early on Thursday meaning the match had to be decided by Duckworth-Lewis.

Rain clouds

As Kevin Pietersen led his troops into the Chinnaswamy stadium yesterday, rain clouds swirled over the city, threatening to wash out the fourth one-dayer.

Heavy showers have been forecast for today and the predictions say there is a slim chance of the match getting under way.

If the game does go ahead, it could again be cut short, considering the outfield has been soaked since Saturday morning.