English fast bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series after injuring his abdominal muscle during his bowling spell on day five of the Adelaide Test that the tourists won by an innings to took a 1-0 lead in the series.
Broad who has been one of the permanent members of the English bowling attack in recent years was devastated at the news that his Ashes tour was over even before reaching the half way stage.
He added that his team has a wonderful opportunity of winning the Ashes down under for the first time since 1986-87.
"Obviously I'm heartbroken. I'm distraught at leaving the tour," said Broad. "Within two or three balls of my spell, I knew I was in big trouble, and I immediately said to Jimmy Anderson, 'I might be struggling here'. I got through a few overs, but it felt
like someone stabbing me in the stomach.”
Broad who is the son of former English opening batsman Chris Broad claimed the he was now aiming to regain fitness before the World Cup that is set to take place in the sub-continent.
He added that his aim is to regain peak fitness before the start of the tournament yet the long duration of the tournament means that he can join the squad mid way of the event.
"My next focus is to get it 100% right for the World Cup and be fresh and ready to perform then," he added. "It's eight to 10 weeks' rehab, and the first World Cup game is nine weeks (away). But the thing about that World Cup is that it
goes on for years, so even if I miss the first game I'll still be available for the end of it”.
Both teams would have to replace at least one player in their line-ups for the Perth Test match as the Australians have lost opener Simon Katich through an Achilles injury that he sustained on day three of the Test.
The injury only aggravated during his batting effort in the second innings where he contributed 40 odd before becoming the first of five victims of English match winner Graeme Swann.
"There are still a lot of factors, but I will do everything I can to try to play Test cricket again," Katich said. "Obviously my age will be a factor, but I haven't looked at it like that in the last few years because the last two and a
half years of my career have been my best."
Katich who only plays in the longest format of the game for his country conceded that he was worried that the injury can rule him out of Test cricket for some months which might mean the end of the road for him as far as international cricket
is concerned.
It remains to be seen as to who replaces him at the top of the innings but left-handed Phil Hughes who made a great start to his Test career by slamming hundreds against the South Africans in his first series is the likeliest candidate.
Katich and Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 have been the regular openers for the Aussies through out this year. They started their partnership during last year’s Ashes in England and have carried on performing decently al over the world since then.
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