England suffer Broad injury blow as Australia close on Ashes glory
PACEMAN Stuart Broad suffered a cruel injury blow yesterday as England hurtled towards a seemingly inevitable third Test defeat and the loss of the Ashes.
Broad was struck on the foot by a Mitchell Johnson delivery, leaving him unable to bowl or field in Australia’s second innings in Perth and a fitness worry for the rest of the series. The hosts were due to resume early this morning on 235-3, a lead of 369.
The Nottinghamshire bowler – England’s most effective in this match, with three wickets in Australia’s first innings – was sent to hospital for an X-ray. He said he hoped to be able to bat in the tourists’ second innings, in which they were left needing a miracle to avoid handing back the urn with two Tests to spare.
“The treatment is a lot of ice, elevation, keep off it, because I want to play a part in this series. It won’t be Monday, but hopefully in future,” said Broad, who went lbw as England were dismissed for 251. “I’ll put my hand up to bat if it improves overnight and we need that, but I won’t be bowling.”
England lost their last six wickets for just 61 runs on a desperate third day at the WACA, before opener David Warner’s 112 helped Australia close in on a third successive resounding Test victory.