England admit Broad injury concerns

The England national selector, Geoff Miller, has admitted there are concerns over the fitness of Stuart Broad, England's Twenty20 captain, and that a time may come when he cannot be part of the side in all three formats of the game.

Broad, who flew home early from the Test series in India with a heel problem, is due to link up with the England squad ahead of the final two one-day internationals, but is considered unlikely to play either of those matches. A more realistic target for his return is the Twenty20 series in New Zealand, which starts on February 9.

That, however, is admittance that Broad's recovery from the heel problem that plagued him during the Test series in India has not gone as smoothly as hoped. Broad is visiting a kit specialist in Germany this week to be fitted with customised boots aimed to alleviate the problem on his left heel, which takes the brunt of the force during his delivery stride.

"The concern is that there have been two or three niggles that have affected his form and availability," Miller told reporters in India. "Anybody with an injury is a concern to us and we've got to manage workloads as best as we can, that's why we're continually looking at other players. We will look at it and make sure he's used in the best possible way for English cricket. He knows that."

The rotation of players during a packed international schedule is now a major talking point, particularly in Australia, and England are currently using such a system during the one-day series in India, with James Anderson and Jonathan Trott also rested. It is likely, too, that certain key players will be given periods off during the upcoming home-and-away Test series against New Zealand.

However, ruling a player out of a format completely, unless that is a decision taken by the player concerned, is a drastic option and one that Miller hoped Broad will not have to contemplate.

"At this moment of time we're not thinking about taking him out of a format because he's got that sort of quality, but if we reached the stage where his body wasn't responding to all kinds of cricket then we're open to that."

Although Broad finished 2012 as the fourth-highest Test wicket-taker among quick bowlers, with 40 wickets at 31.70, his form tailed off in the second half of the year against South Africa and India. He had earlier been rested from the one-day series against South Africa, led England at the World Twenty20 before picking up his heel injury during the warm-up matches in India. The problem then reoccurred towards the end of the tour.

Broad's injury problems began in Australia during the 2010-11 Ashes, when a strained stomach muscle sustained in Adelaide forced him home early. He then suffered a rib injury during the World Cup, which again ended his participation early, and then picked up a shoulder injury late in the 2011 home season.

"What we have to do is react to the injury that he has at any one time," Miller said. "He felt, and we felt, that he had to look after his body so he went away and worked really hard at that. Since then there have been a few niggling injuries, but anybody can get them."

Security Threats to Pakistans Women Cricket Team in India

The final decision over the whether to move the Pakistan women's team base for the forthcoming Women's World Cup out of Mumbai, fearing protests by political outfits, hangs in the balance. At the end of the BCCI Working Committee meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday, BCCI president N Srinivasan did not reveal anything concrete except saying that the board had passed the relevant information to the ICC. "We have informed the ICC about it. They will have to examine it and take a view," he said.

The PCB has written to the ICC, asking it to take responsibility of the security of the Pakistan squad. "We have written to the ICC asking it to ensure the Pakistan team get a foolproof security after the hockey incidents," PCB spokesperson Nadeem Sarwar told ESPNcricinfo. The PCB has also requested if the organsiers could shift the venue for the Pakistan matches."

The World Cup will be played at four venues across Mumbai, from January 31 to February 17. Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium, MIG Ground and the Bandra-Kurla Complex ground are the four venues. Pakistan, who are in Group B, are scheduled to play their league matches against Australia (January 31), New Zealand (February 3) and South Africa (February 5).

However, it is understood that the tournament organisers have been thinking of an alternate venue as a safeguard, though no final venue has been decided. "We have not written anything to the ICC asking or informing them about any change of venue. We have just made them aware of what the ground situation is here in Mumbai in a few e-mail exchanges," a board official told ESPNcricinfo. According to him, a final word on the change of venue should be decided in the next two days.

On Sunday, the Shiv Sena activists held protests outside the Bombay Hockey Association Stadium, (which incidentally is adjacent to the Wankhede Stadium) opposing the presence of four Pakistan hockey players in the Mumbai Magicians' squad in the recently launched Hockey India League. Though the team moved immediately to New Delhi, some Sena activists reached the practice venue in the Indian capital to cause further disruptions.

The Sena went public about its intentions, saying it would not allow any Pakistan artistes to perform in Mumbai. "I don't want to reveal our plans, but you already know of our policy. The Sena will not allow any artiste or sportsperson from Pakistan to perform or play in the city. That country is waging a proxy war against us. There's no way we will allow them in Mumbai," senior party leader Subhash Desai told DNA on Monday.

The BCCI, understandably, feels the protests could escalate to a higher level considering it is hosting a world event. "This being a World Cup, it will attract a little more attention from political outfits like Shiv Sena. With regards the hockey issue only few hockey players were involved but we are talking now about an entire Pakistan women's squad," the official said.

Asked if the ICC had raised any concerns, the official said the final decision would have to be taken by India, the host country. "Any decision will be taken here rather than the ICC. It will be a BCCI decision if there is a shift of venue. The only decision when the ICC will get involved in would be in the extreme scenario of Pakistan pulling out of the tournament. But that happening is quite remote," the official said.

The ICC has been monitoring the situation but is happy to wait for the BCCI to deliver the final decision. "Safety and security of the players and ICC officials is always our priority and we constantly monitor and review every situation," an ICC spokesperson said.

Dale Steyn, Best test bowler in the world..

Dale Steyn still deserves to be called the best bowler in the world was evident during New Zealand's first innings in the Port Elizabeth Test. That he is still Graeme Smith's go-to man was obvious as well.

Steyn has been a priceless performer for many years, but with Test matches and series often rolling into each other there has not always been time to reflect on his achievements. In this series, Steyn claimed his 300th wicket in his 61st Test. At his current rate of five wickets a Test, he could become the joint-fastest seamer to 400 and 500 scalps and second fastest on the overall list, behind Muttiah Muralitharan.

At St George's Park, the same place that he made his debut, Steyn his took his 19th Test five-for to put him second on the list of South African five-wicket haulers, one behind Allan Donald. It speaks of his consistency to make breakthroughs and increase his intent when it is needed but also of his individual quest for success.

Steyn clearly wants more, regarding this as just another milestone on the road of the "many more Tests," he hopes to play. Ask him what the 19th haul means and he has a prudent way of comparing himself to another player in the South Africa XI whose hunger for achievement appears to know no bounds. "It means I am on level terms with Hashim Amla's hundreds," Steyn said.

Amla and Steyn's 19th both came in the same match and while Steyn continues to sit atop the bowling charts, Amla is not far behind in batting stakes. The latest ICC rankings have him in second position and he has the opportunity overtake Michael Clarke in the upcoming series against Pakistan.

That would give South Africa the world's best batsman and bowler to add to their status as the No.1 ranked Test side and it is that sort of unit Steyn is savouring being part of. "Everybody just plays their part in this team," he said. Steyn's part contributes heavily to South African success and he was willing to indulge in a few moments of self-reflection as he looked back on his proudest moments so far.

Steyn could point out two five-fors which meant the most to him in his nine-year career. Interestingly, neither were at home or in helpful conditions.

"There was one in the West Indies in 2010 in the first Test," he remembered. "I was coming around the wicket and the ball was reversing. They had a couple of left handers and guys were leaving the ball and I got a few wickets. I thought to myself then I don't think I couldn't have bowled any better and everything just worked out perfectly."

Steyn's 5 for 29 included four left handers: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Suliemen Benn and Ravi Rampaul. He made the crucial breakthrough when Chanderpaul was going about a repair job and then nipped out the tail with three wickets in two overs.

I am fit for selection - Manoj Tiwary

India batsman Manoj Tiwary has said he has made a full recovery from the side strain that ruled him out of action for a month. The India selectors are expected to meet later this week to pick the squad for the final two ODIs against England and Tiwary is hopeful of making the cut. His fitness report is expected to reach the selectors before the meeting.

Tiwary had been sidelined for at least six weeks after suffering the injury while batting during a Ranji Trophy game for Bengal against Saurashtra in Rajkot in December. His rehabilitation took place at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, in two phases.

"I am feeling fit for selection and have successfully completed my rehabilitation," Tiwary told ESPNcricinfo. "The physio and the trainer were very satisfied with my recovery and I was progressing better than expected in fact. I was able to train with very little pain. They should have sent the fitness report to the selectors yesterday. I am now back home in Kolkata, looking to play a few club games (for match practice)."

Tiwary was injured just five games into the Ranji season. He began the season with 93 against the touring England side in the warm-up game in Mumbai - the highest by an Indian batsman in the game - but it wasn't good enough for him to make the Test line-up. He was among at least three contenders for the No. 6 spot, which eventually went to Yuvraj Singh. Tiwary also hit 191 in his third Ranji match this season, against Gujarat.

He had been initially named in the Twenty20 squad for the two matches against England before Christmas, but the injury meant that he had to miss that series and the limited-overs series against Pakistan as well. Tiwary had also suffered a wrist injury early in the tournament, but it wasn't as serious as his side strain.

Tiwary had once narrowly missed out on a Test debut, when he injured his shoulder during fielding practice on the eve of the Mirpur Test in 2007. Opportunities were also few: he has played just eight ODIs and three T20s since his international debut in 2008. Tiwary scored his maiden ODI century in December 2011, but was benched through the CB Series in Australia. He finally got his chance in the tour of Sri Lanka, scoring a fifty in the fifth ODI. Tiwary said he is used to handling such setbacks.

"The mental strength I have derived comes from my tough upbringing, from my background," Tiwary said. "We never had much money. I believe in hard work and leave the rest to destiny. My struggles are nothing compared to some other people. I motivate myself by watching motivational speeches and inspirational videos."

Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo