David Sales Photo © AllSport David Sales talks of his disappointment at having to withdraw from England A's tour of the West Indies

David Sales is to be flown home from England A's tour of the West Indies tonight for a scan on his knee after he twisted it badly in a game of beach volleyball.

The Northamptonshire batsman fell awkwardly while playing outside the team's hotel in Grenada on New Year's Day and had to be stretchered off by his teammates into the shade.

After almost passing out twice, his knee was X-rayed and examined by local doctors but after it had become more uncomfortable overnight, England A physio Ann Brentnall and manager James Whitaker decided to send him back to England for scans and treatment.

Sales was deeply disappointed to be leaving the tour so early on and said it was a serious setback to his career.

"It is disappointing to be going back after being out for a short time but I need to get it sorted it out so I am fit for the start of the season if it takes that long," said Sales.

"It might only be a month or so but the sooner I get it sorted the better. I thought I saw my knee cap pop out and pop back in as I landed but the pain kept on going. The lads stretchered me off into the cool and washed me down to get the sand off.

"Hopefully it won't be that serious. This is a big tour and we were coming out here with a job to do. It is every player's dream to play for England and this was another stepping stone for me. If I could have done well on this tour, I could have been pushing for an England place this summer but at the moment, this has popped up and is something I will have to deal with.

"It is probably the biggest setback of my career – I've never been injured before so it is blow."

"There were three very loud cracks as he landed and he nearly passed out twice," explained Brentnall.

"There does appear to be some ligament damage and cartilage damage as well but until we get him scanned, we cannot go any further at this stage."

Whitaker said: "The physio believes it could be quite serious and it is better for him to go back home. He feels pretty uncomfortable and there could be some major damage so we are putting him on the plane. He has worked hard so this has come as a bit of a shock."

If the scans show the injury to be less serious, Sales, who was one of the most successful batsmen on the England A tour of Bangladesh and New Zealand, could be recalled but, in the meantime, a replacement is under consideration.

© CricInfo Ltd.