Injury concerns over Sidebottom and Broad

Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of the final ODI against Bangladesh after missing the second game in Mirpur and Stuart Broad's back problem, which restricted him to six overs on Tuesday, is a further worry for England. Meanwhile, there are also concerns over Graham Onions who has arrived for the Tests with reports of a stiff back.

Sidebottom has aggravated the injury he picked up in the first Twenty20 against Pakistan in Dubai and forced him to sit out the second of those matches. He played the opening ODI against Bangladesh, but it was a disappointing performance as he took 1 for 46 in 7.4 overs and he may have been under pressure for his place in any event.

His spot for the second match was taken by James Tredwell as England changed tactics and played two frontline spinners, but England's pace options were then stretched further when Broad couldn't complete his spell. He will be assessed over the next two days ahead of the final game, but with the series wrapped up after the two-wicket victory in Mirpur the temptation could be to play it safe ahead of the Test series.

"Broady we're not sure about, it happened so soon and we need to give it 24-48 hours to settle down before any proper assessment," said Alastair Cook. "Sidebottom is out of the next ODI, but fingers crossed he can get back to fitness. We have to check, we're not 100% sure how serious his thigh is, but we will have a better idea in the next 48 hours."

Broad would have batted with a runner at No. 11 if he'd been required but Tredwell accompanied Eoin Morgan to knock off the runs. "As a bowler when you get a bad back muscles try to protect it. You run around looking a bit stiff for a while but hopefully it will settle down overnight," said Cook.

When asked about Onions' situation Cook said it was the first he'd heard about it, but the list of injuries will no doubt be a worry ahead of the Tests. Ajmal Shahzad and Liam Plunkett are the reserve pacemen in the squad and one could play in the final ODI, at Chittagong, on Friday if Broad is unavailable.

If the selectors feel cover is needed it could offer a chance to the likes of Steven Finn or Chris Woakes who both impressed on the recent Lions tour of UAE and were named in the preliminary 30-man squad for the World Twenty20. England are already without their leading quick, James Anderson, after he was rested from this tour due to his ongoing knee problem.

Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/

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Created on Apr 30th 2020 03:42. Viewed 288 times.

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