Image courtesy of: Zimbio
“At the end of the day, even if there is a small crack there and my symptoms aren’t painful, I see no reason why I can’t continue to play”
England pace bowler Stuart Broad is unlikely to play in the Boxing Day Test after being hit on the right foot by Australia left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Johnson during the third day of the third Test in Perth.
Broad found it difficult to bowl prior to the start of Australia’s second innings and was rushed to the hospital for an x-ray and MRI scan.
Despite admitting that there could be a crack of some kind, Broad put on a brave face and stated that he would bat for England in their second innings if they really needed him to.
“I got hit by a full ball from Mitch when he got me out and it immediately hurt, so I came into the changing room and got some ice on it,” Broad said. “I was desperate to get out there and bowl, so I had to try it out in the nets to see how we went.
“Normally with a bruise you get a bit of blood to it when you get going and the pain decreases. It actually increased quite a bit in the nets. I wanted to go out and have a spell but the doc said I had to go for an x-ray.
“Something showed up but it was a bit inconclusive, so I had to have an MRI, which was quite frustrating because I wanted to get back to the ground and we’re just waiting on those results back from England now. Treatment wise it’s a lot of ice, elevation, rest.
“I’m desperate to play a part in the rest of this Ashes series. I won’t be bowling tomorrow or anything, but there’s a bit of a break between this Test and the next and I’m desperate to be there.”
Broad also noted that even if the bone happens to be cracked, he will do everything in his power to try and be healthy in time for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
“I’m not 100% sure,” he said when asked if he would play during the Boxing Day Test. “It’s all gobbledegook to me, to be honest, it all went over my head.
“I just know what the treatment is to get myself right. But at the end of the day, even if there is a small crack there and my symptoms aren’t painful, I see no reason why I can’t continue to play. I’ve got 10 days until Boxing Day. Even if there is a small crack I see no reason why I can’t get myself back in the frame.”
Broad once again reiterated that he will bat for England in the second innings if they really needed him to.
“It’s pretty much dependent on the state of the game, I think, but I’ll give it a go,” he said. “It’s a bit sore to weight-bear at the minute, but I’ll certainly bat if the team requires it.
“It depends how many overs are left and how we’ve gone, but that decision will be made hopefully not tomorrow, hopefully the next day.”