Cook confident over Finn, Broad fitness –Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SCJ-Broad-c2465, will be fully fit ahead of the first Test against India, which starts on November 15.
Both players have had little match practice in the lead up to the opening Test and doubts still linger over their respective inclusions. They still remain the team’s first choice bowlers in the longer version but having played little in the three warm-up games; it is unlikely that both will be included in the lineup.
Finn suffered a thigh strain after bowling just four overs during the opening warm-up match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 A.
That further forced the management to call up Stuart Meaker into the squad as cover, and the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haryana-c790.
Finn nonetheless, has returned to training and is in line to make his return, albeit, when the eventual Test series kicks-off in Ahmedabad. Their limited bowling preparations will be a cause of concern but Cook is confident that both will be in contention, come Thursday.
"It's great to see them back bowling," Cook said. "The next few days are vital for them and we must go into that game with a fully fit attack. They have to be 100%. You've seen how hot it is out here and how flat the wickets are. They won't be in the ideal state, the preparation period hasn't quite gone right with those two not playing and getting overs under their belts. We're going to have to see over the next few days and make a decision on that, but clearly we've got to be very careful. In an ideal world, they'd certainly have liked to have more match bowling.
“We're going to have to assess these guys over the next 24 hours and then make a decision.”
Finn had been the standout performer when England toured India last year for a five-match ODI series. The lanky pacer took 8 wickets at 31.62 at an economy rate of 5.27.
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