England lose Broad for World Cup

Fast bowler Stuart Broad joined star batsman Kevin Pietersen on the World Cup sidelines on Tuesday, the second injury blow for England on successive days.

Broad was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a side strain he picked up during his four-wicket haul in England's six-run win over South Africa in Chennai on Sunday.

Pietersen was forced to fly home on Monday to undergo a hernia operation and was replaced by Eoin Morgan.

Morgan joined the squad on Tuesday ahead of England's next World Cup match against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday. The England and Wales Cricket Board said it will apply for a replacement for Broad, with the likely choice being seamer Chris Tremlett, who is already travelling with the team as a bowling reserve.

Broad will leave Chittagong for home in the next 48 hours for further assessment that will "determine his recovery and rehabilitation timescale".

The ECB's chief medical officer Nick Peirce (eds: correct) said the side strain was a new problem for Broad, who suffered an abdominal injury during the Ashes tour of Australia which caused him to miss the last three Tests.

"Stuart felt some discomfort following the South Africa match and our initial assessment indicated a strain to his left side," Peirce said.

"Subsequent scans have confirmed a significant side strain injury - where the muscle attaches the rib - that will rule him out of the remainder of the World Cup.

"This is a new injury, separate from the abdominal tear suffered during the Ashes, that requires a period of recuperation and rehabilitation and the duration of this recovery period will be determined following further assessment in the UK."

Broad said earlier on Tuesday he was waiting for the results of the scans to know how serious the injury was.

"At this stage, I am doubtful about playing on Friday, but not sure beyond that. I should know in a couple of days," Broad had told reporters.

"I'm not too down at the minute because I don't know what the injury is. But obviously I'll be bitterly disappointed if it's the end of my World Cup."

Broad, who has claimed 130 wickets in 76 one-day internationals, said he had not suffered a similar side strain before.

"I know it is a common injury with bowlers, but I've never had it before," he said.

"I didn't get the short stabbing pain that I did in the Ashes, so that's a good sign this is not as severe as that. It's in a different area. "It was nothing like the Ashes injury when I felt it straight away and knew there was no real way back. Adrenaline got me through the game (against South Africa) and I was okay for a couple of hours after the match but then stiffened up and got a bit sore. "You have to be very careful with side strains as a bowler. You have to give them enough time to make sure they are 100 percent right or there will be a weak spot," Broad said. CHITTAGONG, AFP