Seamers have Test chance

Graham Onions (left) and Stuart Broad

12 April 2012

Injured England seamers Stuart Broad and Graham Onions still have a chance of playing in the first Test against Bangladesh after MRI scans on the pair revealed no serious problems.

Both players have been suffering from back spasms and will play no part in the three-day warm-up against Bangladesh A starting on Sunday. Broad and Onions, pencilled in as Alastair Cook's new ball pairing in James Anderson's absence, will then be reassessed before the Test on March 12.

An England spokesman said: "Both players have back spasms as a result of bowling but the MRI scans have ruled out any new acute injuries. Neither will be available for the warm-up game and both will continue to undergo a programme of rehabilitation with a view to being available for the first Test."

Cook added: "It's good news that the scans show no major structural damage.

"We'll have to see how the spasms settle down - hopefully they'll release and they will be fit.

"Ideally they need some overs under their belt in the three-day game but we can't have that so we're going to play it by ear."

Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn have been added to the party as cover.