England’sBroadbouncesbackaftergolfballincident

England seamer Stuart Broad is fine after taking an unexpected blow from a golf ball.

Broad is no stranger to finding himself in the firing line in Brisbane, where the home crowd and press delivered a barrage of verbal bouncers in his direction on his last Ashes trip.

Broad became public enemy number one in Aus- tralia in 2013-14 when most of the country remained irked by his decision four months earlier not to walk off in the Trent Bridge Test after edging a ball – via the wicketkeeper’s gloves – to slip.

In response, a Brisbane newspapaer refused to name him – referring instead to “the 27-year-old medium-pacer”, and print- ing only washed-out and faceless silhouettes of him.

Broad has spoken several times in the lead-up to this Ashes campaign, which begins at the Gabba on Thursday, of his curiosity to see what is in store for him in Australia this time.

There has been nothing of note, however, since England’s arrival on Sunday until – in the expected sanctuary of Brisbane Golf Club – he was hit by a stray ball on the lower back while he was bending down to size up a practice putt.

An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said: “Stuart was practising on the putting green when he was hit by a stray golf ball from a member. He is fine and no dramas.”

Meanwhile, Jake Ball is out to prove himself in Australia after returning to full fitness in the nick of time for an Ashes debut.

Ball made a brief but lasting impression at the start of the tour before straining ankle ligaments when he lost his footing in his delivery stride earlier in the month.

The 26-year-old seamer insists he is fully fit again and intends to vindicate glowing reports from coach Trevor Bayliss and others that he was shaping up as potentially England’s best bowler in these conditions.

All indications from the tourists’ camp are that Ball will play in the first Ashes Test on Thursday, preferred to the uncapped Craig Overton as England’s fourth seamer.