Broad left grounded by flight cancellations

The seam bowler, who has been recovering from a heel injury, was scheduled to meet the squad in Chandigarh ahead of the last two one-day internationals of the Airtel Series.

But Broad, who has not played competitively since the second Test in Mumbai in November, was left grounded in the UK due to the extensive cancellations and delays at Heathrow.

Broad, who has been bowling at the National Performance Centre in Loughborough, will meet his team-mates in New Zealand, on the next leg of their winter travels.

England’s one-day coach Ashley Giles admitted the delay was a disappointment, but believes there is still plenty of time to get Broad ready before the first Twenty20 in Auckland on February 9.

Giles has also told his England side India will “walk all over” them if they do not improve quickly.

Giles enjoyed a dream start to his new role as England’s limited-overs coach, with the tourists defying the odds to secure victory in the first one-day international in Rajkot earlier this month.

But things have veered off track in a big way since then, with two resounding defeats in succession putting the home side firmly in control with two matches to go in the Airtel Series.

England have struggled most obviously with the bat, being bowled out in Kochi for 158 and then mustering three fewer in Saturday’s meek surrender in Ranchi.

Giles pulled no punches in his assessment of the last two matches, but is clear about the need to look forward and ensure the same mistakes are not repeated.

“The guys all felt pretty low last night because we got a good hiding at the hands of the Indians,” he said.

“It’s a concern because it has happened twice in a row now.

“It can affect confidence, definitely. You feel knocked and everyone in the dressing room is disappointed, but we have to bounce back.

“The next game is on Wednesday and the one thing we have to be is up for it.

“If we take a backwards step now the Indians will walk all over us. It’s important we are up for the fight.”

Whether all of those who went down in Ranchi will have the chance to make amends is another matter.

Jos Buttler is the spare batsman in the squad and could be handed the wicketkeeping gloves if England lose patience with the out-of-form Craig Kieswetter.

Aussies washed out but Lehmann tastes victory

Australia need to win the fifth and final one-day international against Sri Lanka to tie the series after match four was washed out at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Trailing 2-1 going into the match, Australia needed to win at the SCG in order to level the series ahead of the final match in Hobart on Wednesday.

But after posting a disappointing 222-9, rain brought an early end to proceedings with Sri Lanka’s reply on 14 without loss off 3.2 overs.

The rain had stopped when play was abandoned because of a wet outfield.

David Warner struck an impressive 60 and Mitchell Starc contributed a quickfire 52 not out, but two howlers from the umpires cut short Warner’s impressive knock and that of Moises Henriques.

Brisbane Heat, coached by former Yorkshire batsman Darren Lehmann, beat Perth Scorchers by 34 runs to win the Australian Big Bash Twenty20 competition at the Waca.

Needing 168 to win, the Scorchers never got to grips with the chase, falling short on 133-9, with West Indies pace bowler Kemar Roach taking 3-18 to peg Scorchers to 133-9 after the Heat had posted 167-5, with Joe Burns striking 43 from 26 balls and Dan Christian a 37 from 21.

South Africa captain AB de Villiers has been banned for two one-day internationals for a slow over-rate in the one-wicket defeat to New Zealand in Paarl.

The South African players were also fined 100 per cent of their match fees after the Proteas were found to be six overs short of their target at the end of the one-day match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

De Villiers will miss the ODIs with New Zealand in Kimberley tomorrow and Potchefstroom on Friday.

The sanction was imposed by David Boon of the Elite Panel of International Cricket Council match referees. De Villiers pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the punishment.