Injured Broad out of the World Cup

Flower declines to reveal Strauss’ new opening partner.

CHITTAGONG:

England fast-bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup due to a side strain.

Broad will join teammate Kevin Pietersen on the sidelines after picking up the injury during England’s six-run win over South Africa on Sunday. Seamer Chris Tremlett is expected to replace Broad, but the English Cricket Board (ECB) will need to apply to the World Cup technical committee first.

Broad will leave for home in the next 48 hours for further assessment. The ECB’s chief medical officer Nick Peirce said the side strain was a new problem for Broad, who suffered an abdominal injury during the recent Ashes tour of Australia.

“Stuart felt some discomfort following the South Africa match and our initial assessment indicated a strain to his left side,” Peirce said in the ECB statement.

“Subsequent scans have confirmed a significant side strain injury – where the muscle attaches the rib – that will rule him out of the remainder of the World Cup.

It is the second injury blow for England inside 24 hours after star batsman Pietersen left for home to undergo a hernia operation. Pietersen will be replaced by Eoin Morgan.

England seek new openings

Resurgent England need to find a new opening partnership for Friday’s match after Kevin Pietersen’s exit, but coach Andy Flower isn’t giving the game away.

Flower declined to reveal captain Andrew Strauss’ new opening partner, hinting there could be a different choice for each game depending on the conditions. “It does not have to be the same man for the rest of the tournament,” the coach said.

“We’re not going to let you or the opposition know who it’s going to be, but we’ve got a clear idea of who we want.”

The choice is likely to be limited to Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara or wicket-keeper Matt Prior, who are all essentially middle-order batsmen but capable of having a hit at the start.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2011.