Broad return gives England new options
FAST bowler Stuart Broad has handed England selectors a healthy selection headache by declaring himself fit for tomorrow’s third one-day international with South Africa in Cape Town.
A shoulder injury ruled Broad out of the opening two games of the five-match series – last week’s washout at the Wanderers and Sunday’s excellent seven-wicket success at Centurion.
But the Nottinghamshire seamer was back in full training yesterday and later confirmed he will be available for selection at Newlands.
Broad is expected to be drafted straight into side at the expense of Sajid Mahmood, but the 23-year-old knows he has a fight on his hands if he is to convince the selectors to change a winning side.
“I feel good,” Broad explained. “It’s been a tricky couple of weeks getting my shoulder right but I feel back to full fitness and excited if selected for Friday. It’s always frustrating when you’re missing cricket, but it’s fantastic the way the lads have started the tour. I’m just looking forward to pushing my way back into the side and adding to what has been a great start to the tour.”
Broad also moved to dispel fears that the injury could form part of a longer-term problem.
“It wasn’t a structural damage; it was just an impingement in the shoulder. That’s gone now, and it should be fine. There are no long-lasting effects to it.”
Fellow seamer James Anderson also looks set to be fit for tomorrow’s encounter despite on-going knee niggles, although spinner Graeme Swann and opener Alastair Cook are still out with side and back injuries.