England seamer Stuart Broad was on Friday ruled out of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka with a calf strain and will immediately fly home, dealing a further blow to the tourists. The 25-year-old is also a doubt for the Indian Premier League, which starts next week, where he has signed up for Kings XI Punjab. Broad played in the first Test in Galle, which England lost by 75 runs, despite struggling with a sprain in his left ankle. He suffered the calf injury during the match.
“Broad has been ruled out of the final Test against Sri Lanka after a scan today confirmed a right calf strain,” England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement. “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.” England will not seek a replacement for Broad for the Test starting at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Tuesday, leaving Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn in the reckoning to fill the vacant spot. England need a win to stay on top of the Test rankings. A draw or a defeat will see South Africa take over as the number one side.
