Broad to lead attack as England lose Onions

With James Anderson not fit enough to travel, England had pencilled Broad and Graham Onions in as a reliable new-ball pairing in spin-friendly conditions. Those plans were rocked last week when both men were laid low by back injuries.

While Broad has recovered quickly and has been bowling full practice spells for the last two days, Onions is set to return home.

No replacement is required as 20-year-old Middlesex quick Steven Finn had already linked up with the squad as cover, while the fast bowling ranks are also swelled by the likes of Tim Bresnan, Ajmal Shahzad and Liam Plunkett.

Of those, Yorkshire's Bresnan is in pole position to get the nod today, though Finn pressed his case for a whirlwind debut with an eye-catching display against Bangladesh A.

Nevertheless, Cook is sad to see Onions, who was controversially left out of England's last Test against South Africa, depart.

"I'm desperately disappointed for him," said Cook ahead of becoming his country's 79th Test captain. "He was a huge part of our plans and he still is, obviously, because of the way he bowled in South Africa, where he was unlucky not to take more wickets than he did.

"He bowled really well and I was expecting him to come to these conditions and bowl really well, too. But these things happen, and luckily we've got the strength in depth in our seam-bowling unit to be able to cope."

The news on Broad is considerably better. England's team policy is not to name their side before the toss, but after sending down the equivalent of ten overs in Wednesday net session and returning for another vigorous workout yesterday, the 23-year-old appears set to play.

Assessing his lead seamer's chances, Cook said: "It was all very positive from yesterday. He bowled really well in the nets, ten or 12 in two spells, which is a very encouraging sign.

"Today is the second part of that process of a fitness test so we will see how he is in the morning, as well as how he bowls, and obviously if he comes through that it's excellent news for us."

Meanwhile, Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons believes Roqibul Hasan is "a confused kid" whose shock retirement on the eve of the first Test was a "rash, emotional decision".

Roqibul stunned everyone on Wednesday by informing team manager Shafiul Haque of his intention to quit all forms of the game at the age of just 22. The batsman had just been selected having scored an unbeaten 150 against the tourists for Bangladesh A.

"He's obviously an upset kid at the moment, and probably a bit confused," said Siddons. "He's decided to call it quits for the moment and hopefully in the near future he has a change of heart and everyone accepts him back, which is what I hope happens.

"I don't know who he was trying to hurt, or what point he was trying to prove, but I hope the BCB welcome him back because he's a kid who's a bit confused.

"He's made a rash, emotional decision and I think a really bad one for himself and his family."