Bresnan primed to take chance as Broad limps out of Sri Lanka

Bresnan is understood to be the favourite to replace Broad, although Steven Finn could also be handed the chance to play.

Broad, who started the tour by spraining his left ankle before the opening warm-up match, was passed fit to play in England’s 75-run defeat in the first Test at Galle but hurt his right calf during the match. He looked in visible discomfort when he came out to bat in the second innings and, having had scans assessed back at the National Performance Centre in Loughborough, England decided to fly him back home.

It is the latest in a concerning sequence of fitness problems for Broad, who left the 2010-11 Ashes after two Tests due to a stomach muscle problem that went on to keep him out of the World Cup.

He then suffered a shoulder injury that prevented him from captaining the side in two Twenty20 matches against the West Indies in September and ruled him out of the limited-overs series in India that followed.

Broad’s fitness concerns mean the England and Wales Cricket Board are keen to keep tabs on his calf problem as soon as he gets home, placing serious doubts over his participation in the Indian Premier League.

Broad missed the first of a three-year contract with the Kings XI Punjab due to injury and is now struggling to feature in this season’s competition, which begins on April 4.

While Twenty20 experience in the sub-continent would be ideal for England’s short-form captain ahead of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka later this year, England are unlikely to gamble with Broad’s longer-term fitness.

An ECB statement read: “England pace bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the final Test against Sri Lanka after a scan today confirmed a right calf strain.

“Broad will return to the UK immediately for further assessment before beginning a rehabilitation programme which will determine his availability for all cricket including the IPL.”

Broad took two wickets in the first Test against Sri Lanka, removing dangerous opener Tillakaratne Dilshan with the new ball in each innings.

With just Tuesday’s second Test left on their tour of Sri Lanka, England have not sent for a replacement.

Broad’s injury opens up a selection dilemma for team director Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss, who felt comfortable using Broad and Anderson as a two-man seam attack complemented by spin.

Standby pacemen Bresnan and Finn both have their supporters, but neither offers the complete package that Broad does.

While Bresnan is at least as good as Broad with the bat, he would be considered a gamble as one of just two seamers, while Finn offers explosive wicket-taking ability but a certain lack of control.

The Middlesex man would also extend the tail significantly at a time when the top six are struggling for runs.

England could consider a major gamble, bringing in both men and allowing Samit Patel to take Monty Panesar’s role as second spinner.

The issue arises at a bad time for Strauss, who is looking to end a sequence of four Test defeats in a row as well as scoring a first Test hundred since November 2010.

England coach Graham Gooch yesterday lent his support to Strauss, as a batsman and a leader.

“When you get defeats, you are going to get tough questions, but as far as I’m concerned Andrew Strauss is the best guy to captain England,” said Gooch.

“He is also one of the two best opening batsmen in the country, along with Alastair Cook. I have every confidence in him.

“I see the passion in him, I see the commitment every day on the training pitch trying to improve his game.

“There have been plenty of captains down the years who have struggled. What we have to do is to remain faithful to all our players and believe in their ability.”

England fast bowler Chris Tremlett, meanwhile, has identified this summer’s Test series against South Africa as a “realistic target” for his international comeback after injury.

Tremlett, 30, has played just one Test since Lord’s last July because of a back problem which forced him to return home early from the United Arab Emirates on the eve of England’s second match against Pakistan in January. He subsequently underwent surgery, and reports his rehabilitation continues to go well.

“I’ve just started running again this week and hope, in the next couple of weeks, I’ll do some bowling,” saidthe Surrey seamer.

“At the moment I’m concentrating on short-term goals, trying to bowl pain-free and get my body right and then play for Surrey and develop the confidence to bowl in long spells.”

Tremlett accepts he is highly unlikely to be sufficiently fit in time for England’s early-season series at home to the West Indies, or five one-day internationals against Australia.

But he is more optimistic about the three Tests against South Africa, starting on his home ground at The Oval on July 19.

“I hope I can find some form quickly and work my way back into the England side, but realistically it isn’t going to happen straightaway,” he said.

“The West Indies series may be too soon, but the South Africa series is a realistic target.”