Broad 'champing at the bit' to match his batting heroics

Stuart Broad and his fast-bowling pals are "champing at the bit" to resume their work at Trent Bridge today. And while Broad admitted last night that India "are probably the happier of the two camps", he insisted that England still have a real chance of winning this second Test.

"We knew after losing the toss that we would have to battle hard with the bat," said Broad, whose second consecutive half-century helped England to post a fighting 221 all out after they had been 88 for 6.

"At Lord's last week we managed to get through the period where the ball swung around. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to do that as successfully here but the bowlers are champing at the bit to get out there again. You get enough wickets [pitches] that don't offer you a huge amount so we'll be hoping for a shade of cloud in the morning and looking to get some nicks.

"At tea, it was 100 per cent India's day but we are delighted to have wrestled our way back into the game. It's been hard, but exciting as well and we certainly know we have got a chance. There were a few plays and misses from India, so we are definitely in with a shout."

As a Notts player, Broad knows well enough that Trent Bridge does not need to be under a blanket of cloud for the ball to swing. "It will still swing if it is sunny – and maybe just enough to get the edges," he said.

Without Broad's counter-attacking innings, and his vital stand of 73 for the ninth wicket with his county team-mate, Graeme Swann, England would have been in deep trouble.

"We always have fun when we bat together and we've had some exciting partnerships in the past," said Broad. "The crowd gave us a great reception but you always get a good atmosphere here at Trent Bridge

"Swanny and I had a chat at tea and said we needed to get a bit of momentum back by playing our natural games. It was good to get us back into the Test like that but now it is up to the bowlers to apply some pressure."

Although Broad, Jimmy Anderson and Tim Bresnan will be England's likeliest wicket-takers today, England were boosted last night by the news that spinner Swann has "no significant damage" to his left (non-bowling) hand after being hit on the glove by Praveen Kumar. England had been sufficiently concerned to send Swann for an X-ray, but they expect him to be able to bowl today.

Kumar received less welcome news last night when he was fined 20 per cent of his match fee (believed to be around £2,000) after losing his cool during the early stages of England's innings.

Kumar, who put his name on the honours board at Lord's last week by taking five wickets with an impressive display of controlled swing bowling, was anything but composed after having a tight lbw appeal against Kevin Pietersen rejected by umpire Marais Erasmus.

He confronted the South African official at the end of the over, pointing his finger, and had to be pulled away by Harbhajan Singh. It looked like a clear case of dissent – and the match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, agreed.

India could also be in trouble with Madugalle for their slow over rate. As at Lord's, where most people felt they could have been punished, the tourists were behind the clock yesterday. Captain M S Dhoni is walking a tightrope because his team have been fined twice this year for a tardy over rate and a third transgression would see the captain suspended for one Test.