• England Cricket

Broad confident of Sri Lanka fitness

ESPN staff
April 12, 2011
Stuart Broad has offered an upbeat bulletin on his fitness © PA Photos
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Stuart Broad expects to feature in three County Championship matches for Nottinghamshire before England's first Test against Sri Lanka on May 26.

Broad has been sidelined since being forced to leave England's World Cup squad with a broken rib sustained in the group-stage win over South Africa, in which he claimed four wickets.

It was the seamer's second injury blow in quick succession, having previously missed three Ashes Tests due to a side strain suffered in Adelaide.

After his fitness woes caused him to miss out on IPL duty with Kings XI Punjab, there were fears about whether Broad would be fit for the first Test of England's summer - but he has quashed these concerns.

"I'm hoping to play around May 4, against Yorkshire at home," he told Sky Sports. "I hope to get three Championship games in and get some wickets before the first Test. [The injury] is coming on well - I was pleased it was a broken rib rather than a side strain, because bone heals better than muscle and the side is a bit of an awkward area for bowlers.

"I'm quite fortunate, I played five years of international cricket without any major setback injury-wise. It was always going to happen at some stage, it was unfortunate to happen in two of the biggest tournaments. There is a lot of cricket but we have to be in good enough physical shape to deal with that."

Broad has signed a new three-year deal with Nottinghamshire, keeping him at Trent Bridge until 2013.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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