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England suffer Broad blow

Image: Stuart Broad: Ruled out of Colombo Test match due to injury

Stuart Broad has been ruled of the final Test against Sri Lanka after a scan on Friday confirmed a right calf strain.

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All-rounder to sit out Colombo Test with calf injury

England pace bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka after a scan on Friday confirmed a right calf strain. Broad, 25, will return home immediately for further assessment before beginning a rehabilitation programme which will determine his availability for all cricket, including the Indian Premier League. England, who must win in Colombo next week to share the two-match series, will not call an additional player into the squad. Broad played in England's first Test defeat in Galle despite struggling with a sprain to his left ankle in the build-up to the match. He then suffered an injury to his right calf during the game and was in visible discomfort as he batted in the second innings.

Bresnan or Finn?

England sent the Nottinghamshire all-rounder for scans on Friday and have opted to fly him home for rehabilitation. Broad took two wickets in the first Test, removing Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan with the new ball in each innings. There are now question marks over his participation in the IPL for the second year running. He signed a three-year deal with King's XI Punjab but missed last year's tournament with a stomach injury sustained at the World Cup. An England and Wales Cricket Board statement read: "England pace bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled 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." With just Tuesday's second Test left on their tour of Sri Lanka, Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn will battle it out for a place in a side which has now lost four successive Test matches.

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