Stuart Broad was ruled out from the Test series against India with an injured ankle. He played the first Test but injured himself in the build-up to the second at Lord’s. James Anderson now becomes crucial for England and should stay fit to play the remaining three Test matches. Meanwhile, Broad has said that he won’t be the last bowler to get injured in the series and fears others bowlers risking injury as well.
Writing a column for Daily Mail, Stuart Broad has said that others bowlers too are at the risk of getting injured and has raised concerns over the workload of bowlers as well.
“Sadly, I won’t be the last England injury of this series — not with the GPS ‘red zones’ as they are for players right now. The difficulty with the 2021 schedule being so white-ball dominant is that bowlers have just not built up overs in the bank. Say Saqib Mahmood had been drafted in for this Test. He hasn’t played a red-ball game for 10 weeks and it’s very difficult to play a four or five-day match without some kind of workload behind you. It’s why bowlers do not come back from injury and play straight away” wrote Broad.
Speedy recovery, @StuartBroad8 🙏
🏴 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 11, 2021
Saqib Mahmood who was roped into the England squad for the second Test as Broad’s cover did not end up playing the match. The England think tank went behind the extra pace of Mark Wood. Day 3 of the Lord’s Test was good for batting and if anything it is expected to get batter on the fourth day. Wood’s pace thus can be of immense help for the Indian batters.
James Anderson Needs To Stay Fit Throughout The Series: Stuart Broad
Broad concluded by highlighting the importance of James Anderson to stay fit for the rest of the series. The 39-year old bagged a fifer in the first innings at Lord’s. There were doubts over his place in the playing XI for the second Test.
“For us to keep in this series, Jimmy will have to have stay in this kind of form and lead an inexperienced attack. Whether he will play all five matches, I don’t know but there is a bit of a break after this match for him to rest up” wrote Broad.
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