Broad poised to miss third Test

England may make at least three changes next week for the third Test in Mohali as injuries and form issues start to bite.

Stuart Broad was due to miss the match anyway because England rotate their seamers but he now has a strained tendon in his left foot which will probably rule him out.

Zafar Ansari has struggled so far in the second Test, bowling only 12 overs in the first innings and being dismissed lbw for four. His performance has been hindered by a stomach bug that forced him off the field on Friday but England will consider replacing a spinner with a seamer next week as Mohali is normally the quickest pitch in India.

All 20 South African wickets were taken by spin in Mohali last year, in a match that lasted three days on a pitch that turned from ball one. But that was an exception and England expect a similar pitch to the one here in Visakhapatnam that turns after the first day.

Ben Duckett will have to make at least 30 in the second innings and bat with more assurance against the spinners to be certain of keeping his place in the middle order. Jos Buttler is next in line if Duckett fails.

Chris Woakes, rested for the second Test with a slight knee injury, will return to the side, and Steven Finn had a long bowl in the middle after play in Visakhapatnam yesterday and could take Ansari’s place with England now likely to believe that seamers, not spinners, are their best route to victory.