World Twenty20: England hope fitness of Stuart Broad will lift squad ahead of trip to Chittagong to begin campaign
Broad made his return from injury in the warm-up defeat against India on Wednesday and the team will be hopeful he can take full participation in their opening match against New Zealand
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Your support makes all the difference.England will set up camp in Chittagong on Thursday with hopes high that captain Stuart Broad is close to full fitness.
Broad's participation in his side's World Twenty20 opener against New Zealand on Saturday has been under a cloud since he missed the last two matches of this month's Caribbean tour with tendonitis in his right knee.
He also sat out England's first warm-up match in Bangladesh - a defeat to West Indies - but was able to play a reduced role in the 20-run loss to India on Wednesday.
With sides not restricted to 11 players for practice games, England named an unchanged starting side but drafted Broad in midway through the India innings for two overs to test his knee.
Although England's form is hardly reason for cheer, spirits will be lifted should their skipper and strike bowler be pain-free when the squad complete the short trip from Dhaka to Chittagong, where they will play all four group games.
Spinner James Tredwell said: "It's looking pretty good for Stuart. I think that it went to plan (against India) - bowl two overs - and he had a bit of a bat before play started.
"He's heading in the right direction and I'm sure he'll be wanting to get on the field on Saturday and play.
"He's one we ink into the 11 and his leadership skills are part of his role. We've got Eoin Morgan, who's done brilliantly (captaining) on the field, but Stuart has been involved in the planning and how we go about things out in the middle.
"He's taken a full role when he's been out and when he is fit he will take over."
Even with Broad back in position, England would hardly go in against New Zealand in buoyant mood.
They have won only once in their past eight T20 outings and appear to be struggling to match opposition firepower on the slow, low pitches in Bangladesh.
Chris Gayle led the way as West Indies outgunned them in Fatullah, while Virat Kohli (74 not out) and Suresh Raina (54) seeing India to victory in the capital.
But Tredwell, who has been on reassuringly dependable form, is refusing to dwell on the negatives.
"I think we'd like this result to have gone our way but there were a lot more positives from this game than the last one," he said.
"We're on the right track I guess as we head to Chittagong and prepare for the first game.
"If we continue that work ethic and look to improve our skills hopefully the right things will happen for us in the tournament."
PA
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