Stuart Broad and Stephen Finn uncertain:

England suffer injury problems

ELMO Rodrigopulle reporting from England

England who are straining every nerve and sinew in their bid to win the final Champions' Trophy conducted by the International Cricket Council, had their hopes dashed somewhat with injuries to two of their key bowlers - Stuart Broad and Stephen Finn.

England, although they have entered World Cup 50-over finals, have still to lay their hands on a similar trophy. They won a Twenty20 tournament under all rounder Paul Collingwood.

But their yearning is to win a 50-ovr World Cup and if possible this Champions' Trophy which is being conducted in their own backyard. But the injuries to two of their star bowlers could have them on reverse gear.

England's pride has been hurt with the two defeats to New Zealand in the Nat West one-day series. With the two defeats England lost the series and it would also have jolted them.

England play their cricketing enemy Australia in the first ICC Champions Trophy game in Edgbaston on June 9. It will be a game that both sides will be keen to win and make further progress. Australia is the reigning champions.

All rounder Stuart Broad who ripped the heart out of the New Zealand batsmen in the First Test at Lord's suffered the knee injury attempting a caught and bowled off Brendon McCullum on the first day of the Headingley Test.

Stephen Finn has shin soreness and it has been attributed to early season work load. Both bowlers are due to undergo fitness tests and unless they are fully fit England will not want to take a gamble. But England led by Alastair Cook seemed undercooked in the two one-dayers are confident with a few more days to go that Broad and Finn would have recovered and take their places in the first game against Australia.

An ICC ruling has it that teams can replace injured players subject to ICC ratification, at any time but once a player is removed he cannot return to the 15-man squad.

Broad and Finn along with Jimmy Anderson, Jade Dernbach and Tim Bresnan with off spin from Graeme Swann were expected to form a strong bowling line up in their charge for the trophy.

If Broad and Finn do not recover in time, the England bowling line up will look thin.