Gutted to be Ruled Out of India Series, Stuart Broad to Focus on Ashes

London: After being ruled out of the ongoing home Test series against India due to a calf injury, a “gutted” Stuart Broad said he will take his time to recuperate and prepare for the Ashes, scheduled to begin in December.

The England seamer sustained a tear to his right calf during a warm-up on Tuesday. He underwent an MRI scan in London on Wednesday lunchtime, which revealed a tear.

“Things can change so quickly. A moment before training all smiles then during the warm-up, I jumped a hurdle, landed a bit awkwardly on my right ankle then the next step felt like I’d been whipped by a rope as hard as you can imagine on the back of my leg,” Broad wrote on his Instagram account.

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“I actually turned to @jimmya9 (James Anderson) & asked why he whipped me! but when I realised he was nowhere near me I knew I was in trouble.

“Scans say grade 3 calf. All so innocuous. Season over & gutted to miss this India Test Series but a huge focus on Australia now. Going to take my time, no rush, baby steps & be the fittest I can be heading out there. Big focus in my brain,” he added.

Speedy recovery, @StuartBroad8 🙏

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳

England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 11, 2021

The 35-year-old had picked one wicket in the rain-curtailed first Test that ended in a draw last week.

Broad was on the verge of playing his milestone 150th Test.

England take on India in the second Test at Lord’s from Thursday.