Broad aims for May comeback

Stuart Broad believes his weakness after two stomach upsets may have made him more vulnerable to the injury which has ended his World Cup campaign.

Broad was ruled out of the tournament on Tuesday after scans revealed he had suffered a "significant" side strain during Sunday's six-run win over South Africa.

And the 24-year-old seamer suspects those days spent with little or no solid food might have played their part in him succumbing to injury, and said: "I wasn't particularly well the week before, so my body might have been a little bit weaker. I had lost 5kgs and perhaps didn't have the same balance in my body."

Broad is set to be replaced by Chris Tremlett, who is already with the squad in the subcontinent as a stand-by player, as he prepares to leave an England tour early for the second time in the past three months.

Broad left the Ashes tour after the second Test in Adelaide due to an abdominal problem, which is unrelated to his new complaint.

The 25-year-old missed almost two months with that injury and while no timescale has been set for his recovery he is aiming to return for the first Test of the summer against Sri Lanka in Cardiff at the end of May.

"If it is a definite tear and six weeks out there is no point hanging around, and I will get back and make sure I'm fit for the first Test," he added, speaking before the diagnosis was confirmed.

Without Broad as well Kevin Pietersen, who flew back to the UK earlier this week with a hernia problem, England know they need to be wary of tournament co-hosts Bangladesh in their penultimate group match on Friday.

Their hosts suffered an embarrassing defeat against West Indies, after being bowled out for only 58 in Dhaka last week.

"It's a massive game for England," said Broad. "After a disappointing performance against Ireland, we came back very strongly against South Africa with the ball - and it's important we click with both bat and ball in this game."