COLOMBO  - England team director Andy Flower is ready to wait until the last minute to see if Stuart Broad will be fit to play in tomorrow's final pre-Test warm-up in Sri Lanka.
Broad, England's form bowler over the past year, was withdrawn from the first practice game against a Sri Lankan Board XI after tripping over a boundary rope minutes before play was due to start.
He sprained his left ankle as a result and, although England insisted it was a minor problem and unlikely to keep him out of tomorrow's clash with a Development XI, he was unable to bowl for four days. The paceman was able to do some running yesterday and will bowl in the nets today to assess his fitness. "He turned his ankle just before the last game started after being down to play," said Flower.
"He's been recovering okay and he will be fitness tested this afternoon. After he's had a bowl we'll decide whether we are going to play him. That decision could be made after training or in the morning when we see how he pulls up then."
Should Broad be ruled out again, question marks would be placed over his participation in the first Test in Galle on March 26, with the exceptionally humid conditions in Sri Lanka not well suited to those who have not been in regular action. Steven Finn is the likeliest player to benefit if Broad does miss out, though Tim Bresnan is also a strong candidate and offers superior batting.