ANDY Flower is not the only one deeply troubled by the persistent injuries and IPL commitments affecting his players, with Stuart Broad’s fitness issues perhaps the greatest concern. The England paceman, and crucial all-round contributor to the side, continues to fight off the nagging calf strain which kept him out of the second Test against Sri Lanka; but that is just the latest injury setback.
Broad had a contract with Kings XI Punjab with the England management, understandably, left in the position of hoping he would not be ruled fit enough to fulfil. That proved to be the case.
This is far from a rare injury setback for Broad, who has endured a spate of fitness problems over the last 18 months. It is a growing concern.
First, was the stomach muscle strain that ruled him out of three Ashes Tests in Australia, before an equally untimely rib injury curtailed his World Cup campaign.
Towards the end of the English season the fast bowler then damaged his shoulder and missed the end of the India home series and Twenty20 matches against West Indies. Broad also had to miss the return contest in India during October.
The primary concern for England’s management is the fact that Broad’s workload shows no sign of relenting. Indeed, had he fulfilled his IPL commitments, the paceman’s international summer schedule would likely have been greatly affected.
The fast bowler is one of the hardest-worked players among the England squad, given the fact that he plays a key part in all three international formats and participates in the odd match for his county Nottinghamshire on the side.
The problem is then exacerbated by the demands of such tournaments as the IPL. If he had joined up with the tournament, he would have returned home to play one County Championship match, against Middlesex, before the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s on May 17.
Broad met the ECB medical staff this week to assess his progress and undertake key fitness tests – checks which would have been left neglected had he represented Kings XI Punjab.
Put simply, playing the IPL would have meant that Broad would not have had a meaningful rest until after the World Twenty20 at the earliest. Oh, and then there’s the small matter of a four-Test series in India in November.
Broad also missed last year’s IPL due to the rib injury he picked up at the World Cup, and it does not seem disingenuous to suggest that the England management will feel as though they have again dodged a bullet.
It is not just Broad’s fitness and well-being that is troubling Flower and his staff: Kevin Pietersen left a gruelling winter of cricket with England to join up with the Delhi Daredevils before embarking on the home summer schedule, a situation which is hardly considered ideal by anyone but the player himself.
Flower, who has never been a fan of the IPL, made his position abundantly clear on the situation.
“The IPL is a tricky subject and a tricky time in the cricketing calendar, and I don’t think there’s a perfect answer there,” Flower said. “My priority now is getting the guys ready for the West Indies series.
“It is a concern: he’s one of the leaders in our attack and our T20 captain as well. But he’ll be working hard to get back in readiness for the West Indies series.”
It should not be overlooked that Broad is also the England Twenty20 captain and has to shoulder the burden of the responsibilities that role entails.
Regardless of what anyone thinks about the IPL and about the international cricket schedule in general, there is little doubt that Broad is being flogged to an extent beyond that which his body can cope.
At the age of just 25, Broad is an asset England can ill afford to see confined to the sidelines due to persistent injuries inflicted as a result of sheer overload.
Flower is not the only one rightfully concerned. (Eurosport)