Summary England seamer Stuart Broad tried to allay fears about his fitness Thursday ahead of Ashes opener.
LONDON (AFP) - England seamer Stuart Broad tried to allay fears about his fitness on Thursday ahead of next week s Ashes opener against Australia saying "if the Test started today I d be ready to go".
Broad hasn t bowled competitively since injuring his right shoulder diving to regain his ground while batting during England s Champions Trophy final defeat by India at Edgbaston on June 23.
However, the 27-year-old had a cortisone injection Monday and had some bowling practice during the tea interval on Wednesday s final day of England s warm-up match against Essex at Chelmsford.
Broad, the son of former England batsman Chris, played a key role in England regaining the Ashes in 2009 with an innings haul of five wickets for 37 runs in the hosts series-clinching win at The Oval before an abdominal muscle injury ruled him out of the last three Tests of the team s triumphant 2010/11 Ashes campaign in Australia.
But Broad, speaking to reporters in London on Thursday, insisted he was now fully fit and available for the start of England s Ashes defence, which will begin at Trent Bridge -- his Nottinghamshire home ground -- on July 10.
"It s really good actually," Broad, speaking at a media event organised by Ashes sponsors Investec, said.
"In the Champions Trophy final, I dived to make my ground and as a tall, gangly bloke I landed awkwardly and jarred my shoulder a little bit.
"If it was anything but my right shoulder, it wouldn t have been much of an issue. There was just a bit of catching in the socket when my arm rotated which wasn t healing as quickly as it could have done.
"We just put a cortisone in it on Monday to get rid of the extra fluid I suppose and it seems to have settled. I batted and bowled yesterday (Wednesday) and I am 100 percent fit.
"If the Test started today (Thursday), I d be ready to go. I didn t bowl flat out yesterday (Wednesday), that will be for tomorrow (Friday)."
Broad s words backed up comments made by England coach Andy Flower who, speaking after England s 228 run-win over Essex, said Wednesday he was "pleasantly surprised" by the paceman s first bowling attempt since his injury.
"We anticipate him (Broad) being fit. He could not have played this game, but he should be OK (for the first Test)."
Broad s confidence in his own fitness was a further boost to England after premier off-spinner Graeme Swann was cleared of a fractured arm
Swann was hit on his right, bowling, arm while batting on Monday on the second day of the four-day match against Essex.
