Broad ready for return in India, Joe Root says

Jofra Archer may have been ruled out of the second Test against India in Chennai but England captain Joe Root believes a “fit and firing” Stuart Broad is “ready to go.”

Archer had an injection in his elbow after experiencing discomfort during the tourists’ 227-run win in the first Test at the same venue.

The 25-year-old, who did not take part in training on Thursday, previously had elbow problems during last winter’s tour of South Africa, though medical staff believe the issues are unrelated and expect the fast bowler to be fit for the third Test of the four-match series in Ahmedabad.

Veteran seamer Broad, who has 517 Test wickets to his credit, was in line to come in for record wicket-taker James Anderson regardless, having played one Test in Sri Lanka before making way for his longstanding new-all colleague.

But England could now opt to play both Broad and Anderson rather than continue to rotate the duo, although they do have alternative pace options in Olly Stone and Chris Woakes.

“It’s great he is fit, firing and ready to go ahead of the last three games” said Root of Broad during a conference call with reporters.

“It will be exciting to see him back out there. Stuart will play and we expect him to do exactly what he has done in the recent past in the England shirt.”

Archer’s setback is the second to hit the England camp since they arrived in India after Zak Crawley slipped on a marble floor and damaged his wrist ahead of the first Test.

Crawley is set to miss out once again but the top-order batsman has made a return to the nets.

England, however, are still on an ongoing streak of six successive away Test wins, with Root’s commanding 218 the cornerstone of their victory in Chennai.

“There is no reason why it can’t continue, in my eyes,” said Root of the winning run.

“The whole point is that we keep gathering this momentum, keep looking to get better, keep challenging ourselves.

“When you get your opportunity, when you get to 60, 70, 80 not out, go and get two hundred. When you have the ball in hand, you have three or four overs to make a real impact; go and change the game just like Jimmy Anderson did in that spell on the last day (in Chennai).”

England will have to contend with a crowd for the first time in a year after local authorities said up to 15,000 fans a day would be allowed into the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium as well as a fresh pitch and an India side looking to square the series under fiery captain Virat Kohli.

“He is a proud guy with an unbelievable record in his own conditions as captain and a batter,” said Root of Kohli. “He will want to come to the fore in this series sooner rather than later.”

As for the prospect of playing in front of spectators, Root added: “Our guys will be excited about having crowds back.

“When you come to India they are very passionate about the sport and to get that interaction with fans is going to be brilliant.

“If anything it will add to the occasion and I’m sure the guys will have some atmosphere to fall back on and work with in the stadium.

“I’m really looking forward to that side of things. It does not change anything and actually it will be really beneficial for us as a team to have that side of international cricket back again.” (AFP)