STUART BROAD could miss the first three Tests of the winter as England’s top players face more schedule madness.
The vastly-experienced bowler is ready to opt out of the tour of Pakistan in December to be with his fiancee, singer and Radio One presenter Mollie King, as she prepares to give birth to their first child.
Stuart Broad might stay with pregnant fiancee Mollie King rather than tour
Veteran speedster Stuart Broad could be a victim of England’s hectic schedule
Several other players chosen for England’s first Test matches in Pakistan since 2005 face a hectic itinerary with just a few days between the end of the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia and a pre-tour training camp in Abu Dhabi.
Those impacted could include captain Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and, if he overturns his retirement from Test cricket, Moeen Ali.
Top players are being forced to miss more and more cricket to try to avoid burn-out and possible injury.
Stokes and Bairstow both pulled out of The Hundred this summer and Stokes has quit 50-over cricket altogether.
The strain has told on bowlers Jofra Archer, Wood and Woakes, all absent with long-term injuries.
Even yesterday, England white-ball captain Jos Buttler, who plays for Manchester Originals, withdrew from the remainder of The Hundred with a calf injury. England leave for Pakistan for seven T20 matches on September 14, just two days after the final Test against South Africa at The Oval is due to finish.
The T20 squad then flies to Australia for World Cup warm-up matches before their tournament opener against Afghanistan on October 22.
The T20 World Cup final is in Melbourne on November 13 and England begin their Test match training camp in Abu Dhabi on November 18, followed by their only warm-up match against England Lions on November 23.
Captain Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and the squad will then fly to Pakistan for the First Test in Rawalpindi on December 1 followed by further Tests in Multan on December 9 and Karachi on December 17. The dates and venues were confirmed yesterday.
Some players not involved in the Pakistan Test series will remain in Australia for three 50-over matches following the T20 World Cup. Others will be flown out to bolster the squad.
In early 2023, England have a Test series in New Zealand and white-ball matches in South Africa and Bangladesh.
Pakistan switched their home matches to the UAE following an attack on a coach carrying the Sri Lankan team and match officials outside the stadium in Lahore in 2009.
Broad’s father, Chris, working as match referee, was caught up in the terror but was uninjured. Two civilians and six policemen were killed.
Cricket has been returning to Pakistan, with several English players appearing in the Pakistan Super League T20 event and Australia touring this year.
England were due to return to the country last year for limited-overs matches but caused outrage when they refused to travel claiming the mental and physical well- being of the players could be harmed.
ECB’s interim chief executive Clare Connor said: “The return of our men’s Test team to Pakistan for the first time since 2005 will be an historic occasion.
“The opportunity to play Test cricket in front of passionate cricket-lovers in Pakistan after such a long time is something to be cherished.
“We have been working closely with the PCB over recent months and I am grateful for everything they have done.”
