Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the rest of the Test series against India owing to a tear in his right calf muscles. Broad endured the injury in a warm-up session ahead of the second Test match, at Lord’s.
Broad spearheaded the pace attack, along with James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, in the first Test. He went wicketless in the first session but dismissed K.L. Rahul in the second.
As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, even Anderson missed the training session on Tuesday, and he remains doubtful for the second Test. Mark Wood and Saqib Mahmood are likely to replace Anderson and Broad, assuming the former is ruled out.
England have called up Mahmood as a replacement for Broad. He has had a terrific season with Lancashire, and impressed everyone in the limited-overs series against Pakistan.
On the other hand, Dom Bess has been released and he will join Yorkshire. Moeen Ali was earlier recalled for the second Test.
On the other hand, India will be missing the services of Shardul Thakur, ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Thakur played as a fourth seamer in the opening Test, and picked two wickets in each innings.
Thakur’s injury has posed an interesting dilemma for the Indian contingent. India’s four fast bowlers – Ishant Sharma (who missed the Trent Bridge Test due to an injury), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj – are not the greatest of batters, which leaves them with no natural replacement for Thakur.
India may, thus, have to opt for R. Ashwin along with Ravindra Jadeja.