West Indies Tour: England's World Twenty20 campaign in danger of crumbling as Stuart Broad adds to injury woes
Captain insists he will be fit for Bangladesh tournament but will require an pain-killing injection and could need eventual surgery on patella tendinitis
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Your support makes all the difference.England's ICC World Twenty20 injury worries are beginning to mount.
Captain Stuart Broad insists that, although he may eventually have to have surgery on patella tendinitis, he will be fit to play in Bangladesh after he has had an injection in his right knee.
While he will have to miss the final two matches of England's Twenty20 series against West Indies, however, his deputy Eoin Morgan also has a knee injury - and batsman Joe Root was thought likely to be ruled out of the impending global tournament on Monday after breaking his thumb last week.
Broad, who expects to stay on with England in the Caribbean, confirmed following their 27-run defeat against the Windies at the Kensington Oval on Sunday that Morgan is set to take over the captaincy.
Morgan missed the first two matches of England's one-day international series victory over the Windies in Antigua, and Broad said: "His leg is still very ugly, heavily bruised - and there was quite a bit of swelling on it yesterday."
Both players have been having spells of treatment to try to keep them on the pitch.
"We spent all day yesterday in the treatment room, icing.
"So I wouldn't say he's 100% yet, and he's an important man we need right for Bangladesh.
"He says he's right to do his job in Twenty20 cricket."
Injuries aside, England put in a distinctly unpromising performance as they went 1-0 down to their hosts - failing to deal with the Windies spinners, who took six for 46.
England replied to 170 for three by mustering only 143 for nine, despite 40s from Ravi Bopara and then Tim Bresnan.
"In the 50-over stuff, we played the spin very well," added Broad.
"But we didn't actually have to take it down at any stage. In Twenty20 cricket ... it looked like we really struggled to stand and strike, and have clear options against their spinners.
"I think we got a bit surprised by the wicket. Here [previously], it was more seamer-friendly ... whereas today, virtually every seamer went at eight-an-over, and the spinners were three for 15 and stuff.
"That will be something to take into consideration selection-wise for Tuesday."
As for England's batting difficulties against Samuel Badree (three for 17), Marlon Samuels and Sunil Narine, Broad said: "I think it's more a mental clarity to decide where our best options are, because we lost too many wickets to spin today."
Samuels, who top-scored for the hosts with an unbeaten 69, had some predictable advice too.
"I guess England will have to go back to the drawing board, and reconsider using more spinners," he said.
Narine was set to have a scan on a knee injury on Monday, having had to leave the field during West Indies' victory.
PA
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