Cricket: Stuart Broad in a hurry to make winning return against South Africans

Published on Wednesday 25 November 2009 22:43

STUART Broad is impatient to make up for lost time as he targets a winning return from injury for England against South Africa.

The fast bowler injured his shoulder fielding in the first match of England's tour at Bloemfontein almost three weeks ago – and has since had to sit out two Twenty20s and a one-day international.

A drawn Twenty20 series was followed in his absence by England going 1-0 up with three to play in the ODIs, starting at Newlands tomrrow. For Broad, man of the match in England's Ashes-clinching victory at The Oval three months ago, it has been an aggravating false start to the winter. But he was relieved to discover his shoulder problem was not long term, and has been heartened to watch England's progress too.

"I'm just looking forward to pushing my way back into the side and adding to what has been a great start to the tour," he said. "It's always frustrating when you're missing cricket. But it's fantastic the way the lads have started the tour. It's been a tricky couple of weeks getting my shoulder right – but I feel back to full fitness, and excited if selected for Friday."

Broad confirmed his injury has cleared up entirely. "It wasn't a structural damage; it was just an impingement in the shoulder," he said. "That's gone now, and it should be fine. There are no long-lasting effects to it. I've been bowling for three or four days now, feel fully fit – and I'm excited about potentially taking some wickets again."

On Broad's wish-list is to renew his pace-bowling partnership with James Anderson. "We've missed a bit of cricket since the Ashes together," he said. "He's been rested, and I've been rested on occasions. I'm looking forward to getting back in the middle with him. He's been bowling well, as has the whole unit."

One man who may yet have to wait a few more days to return to the team, however, is off-spinner Graeme Swann – who took part, along with Broad, in today's middle practice but is not yet certain to be fit in time for the third ODI.

"He's having a bowl today, testing it out," Broad reported. "We'd like him to be fit for the game. But we've got to make sure he's right before we risk him."

Without Swann and Broad, England kickstarted their campaign with an impressive seven-wicket win at Centurion last weekend – after a washout at the Wanderers – and Broad has seen much from emerging stars to be confident of further success.

"Eoin Morgan has really shone on this tour so far – and let's hope that can continue for these last three games," Broad said. "Then there is Jonathan Trott. You sometimes forget how little international cricket he's played, with the way he's performed – a hundred on Ashes debut, and he's been batting fantastically in these Twenty20s and one-dayers as well.

"It's about players taking responsibility really. It's important you don't rely on certain individuals to make the runs and take the wickets. That's why we're in a good place as a team – because everyone is 'putting in' on different days."

Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid completed his 28th Test century and moved into fourth place on the all-time scorers list as India tightened their grip on the second Test against Sri Lanka in Kanpur, India.

Dravid made 144 after becoming the third player to score a hundred before India were all out for 642 after tea on the second day. Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath triggered a late batting slump, grabbing five wickets by striking either side of the interval on a slow Green Park pitch.

Herath captured five for 121, his fourth five-wicket haul in a Test innings, taking all but one of the last six wickets which tumbled for 29 runs.

Sri Lanka reached 66 for one at stumps after a nightmare start when opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was out for a first ball duck when he top-edged a loosener down the leg side from paceman Zaheer Khan to be caught at mid-on. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara and opener Tharanga Paranavitana were both 30 not out.