Stuart Broad: I feared for my future over foot injury

Stuart Broad has revealed that the foot injury that blighted his winter left him fearing for his career.

Broad’s participation in the tours of India and New Zealand was reduced because of a lacerated fat pad in his left heel, sustained while bowling in practice in India.

Broad (above) is confident the problem can be managed but as he prepared for today’s First Investec Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, he admitted the situation had caused him serious concerns.

“I did some rehabilitation in January but during the first two weeks in New Zealand, I was worrying for my career,” he told Standard Sport. “I was told there was no way of operating on it or injecting it and that all the specialists around the world were being contacted and nobody knew what to do.

“I was bowling and pulling up really sore but England physio Ben Langley worked on it non stop. I had a softer boot made in Germany and, touch wood, I’ve not felt it since February.

“All credit must go to the physio, who spent hours breaking down the scar tissue.

“It’s still there and could come back at any time but it’s beginning to knit itself back together and that’s such a relief for me.

“When you’re running into bowl and thinking about the heel it’s such a worry and there’s no way you can bowl at your best.

“I’ll probably have to wrap my foot in tape for the rest of my cricket career but now that the heel seems fine, I can be that free spirit again and just play.”