AFP/London
England seamer Stuart Broad tried to allay fears about his fitness ahead of next week’s Ashes opener against Australia, saying “if the Test started today I’d be ready to go”. |
Broad hasn’t bowled competitively since injuring his right shoulder diving to regain his ground while batting during England’s Champions Trophy final defeat by India at Edgbaston on June 23.
However, the 27-year-old had a cortisone injection on Monday and had some bowling practice during the tea interval on Wednesday’s final day of England’s warm-up match against Essex at Chelmsford.
Broad, the son of former England batsman Chris, played a key role in England regaining the Ashes in 2009 with an innings haul of five wickets for 37 runs in the hosts’ series-clinching win at The Oval before an abdominal muscle injury ruled him out of the last three Tests of the team’s triumphant 2010/11 Ashes campaign in Australia.
But Broad, speaking to reporters in London yesterday, insisted he was now fully fit and available for the start of England’s Ashes defence, which will begin at Trent Bridge—his Nottinghamshire home ground—on July 10.
“It’s really good actually,” Broad said. “In the Champions Trophy final, I dived to make my ground and as a tall, gangly bloke I landed awkwardly and jarred my shoulder a little bit. I batted and bowled yesterday (Wednesday) and I am 100 percent fit. If the Test started today (Thursday), I’d be ready to go,” he said.