Injury scare for England

Stuart Broad
15 March 2012

There was a minor injury scare for Stuart Broad on an otherwise uneventful start to England's warm-up match against a Sri Lankan Board XI in Colombo.

Broad was named in the tourists' side but withdrew after spraining his left ankle - an injury sustained as the seamer tripped over a boundary rope during fielding practice. England, who named Steven Finn in his place, are not concerned about Broad's fitness beyond the current match and decided against sending him for scans.

On the field, James Anderson took two early wickets as the hosts reached 64 for two at lunch on day one.

England, sent into the field, started with maidens at both ends before Anderson took the first wicket of the tour in the fifth over. He located the edge of Dimuth Karunaratne, who failed to score, and the ball carried through to the diving Matt Prior behind the stumps.

Fellow opener Ashen Silva scored the first four of the day off Finn but lost another partner in the ninth over as Anderson picked up a second wicket. Banuka Rajapakse was the batsman, fending at one outside off stump and proving a simple catch for Jonathan Trott at third slip to make it 11 for two.

Ravi Bopara, picked ahead of Samit Patel in the all-rounder's slot, was called on to bowl the 10th over and immediately found a hint of movement.

Anderson managed six overs in humid conditions before heading off at the pitch at the end of his spell.

Graeme Swann replaced him and soon beat Roshan Silva's outside edge with a quicker straight delivery.

Finn had a good lbw shout against Roshan turned down in the first over of his second spell, while Swann thought he had him caught at the wicket for seven only to be denied.

Monty Panesar had to wait until the 22nd over for a bowl, conceding just one run from his five overs before lunch.

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