Broad missing from England practice but Root expecting bowler to return at Oval

STUART BROAD was one of two notable absentees from practice at The Oval before tomorrow’s fifth Investec Test between England and India.

It was thought Broad, perhaps wearing a protective mask of some description on the nose which was broken by a Varun Aaron bouncer in England’s win at Old Trafford last week, would be present and correct at nets.

Instead, like India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni when India held their voluntary practice a few hours earlier, Broad was the only member of his team missing.

Dhoni did not attend at all – and although there were variant rumours of trips to a shooting range or the zoo, the official explanation from India was simply that their captain was resting.

Broad was at the ground but took no part in training.

His inaction, according to England, was “planned” and will not impact on his availability when the hosts set out tomorrow to defend a 2-1 lead in the last match of the series.

Team-mate Joe Root is certainly still optimistic Broad will be able to partner James Anderson with the new ball as usual.

“It’s not very pretty,” said Yorkshireman Root. “He’s not got his ‘boy-band’ looks you’d normally associate with Stuart.

“He’s milking it definitely... as you’ll probably have seen on all the social network sites.”