The English wicket-keeper batsman, Jonny Bairstow said that despite the fact that Stuart Broad is injured ahead of their second Test against India is a big blow, it will be a great opportunity for other players to shine. Broad was ruled out of the series as he suffered a calf injury during training ahead of the 2nd Test, starting on Thursday at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
Broad’s injury means that England will be missing him and his long-time pace partner James Anderson at Lord’s. Describing the same as per the quotes in ESPNCricinfo, Jonny Bairstow said, “It would be a big loss, naturally, because they’ve (Broad and Anderson) got a thousand Test wickets between them. But with that comes an opportunity for other people.”
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England was forced to field an entirely new squad during their limited series against Pakistan last month after seven members of the primary squad were tested positive for Covid-19. However, the new team, led by all-rounder Ben Stokes who had sat out with a finger injury, ended up winning both their remaining matches.
Elaborating the same, Jonny Bairstow said, “I don’t think it’s too much of a de-stabiliser to be honest,” he said. “With the nature of professional sport, there are going to be injuries at times, there is going to be illness, it can happen overnight and you’ve got to be adaptable within the group. That’s what we have been.”
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Stuart Broad came up with the explanation behind how he suffered the calf injury and highlighted how an innocuous training session became the reason behind him missing the entire series. Broad also joked that he had suspected Anderson made an attempt of whipping him with a rope during the training session when he felt pain in his calf muscle.