Fast bowler Stuart Broad joined star batsman Kevin Pietersen on the World Cup sidelines on Tuesday, the second injury blow for England in successive days.
Broad was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a side strain he picked up during his four-wicket haul in England’s six-run win over South Africa in Chennai on Sunday.
Pietersen was forced to fly home on Monday to undergo a hernia operation and was replaced by Eoin Morgan.
Morgan joined the squad on Tuesday ahead of England’s next World Cup match against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday.
The England and Wales Cricket Board said it will apply for a replacement for Broad, with the likely choice being seamer Chris Tremlett, who is already travelling with the team as a bowling reserve.
Broad will leave Chittagong for home in the next 48 hours for further assessment that will “determine his recovery and rehabilitation timescale”.
The ECB’s chief medical officer Nick Peirce said the side strain was a new problem for Broad, who suffered an abdominal injury during the Ashes tour of Australia which caused him to miss the last three Tests.
“Stuart felt some discomfort following the South Africa match and our initial assessment indicated a strain to his left side,” Peirce said.
“Subsequent scans have confirmed a significant side strain injury – where the muscle attaches the rib – that will rule him out of the remainder of the World Cup.
“This is a new injury, separate from the abdominal tear suffered during the Ashes, that requires a period of recuperation and rehabilitation and the duration of this recovery period will be determined following further assessment in the UK.”
