The second India-England Test at Lord’s would have been Stuart Broad’s 150th appearance in the game’s traditional format. Unfortunately for the 35-year-old, who has as many as 524 Test scalps, a tear in his right calf has not just ruled him out of this Test, but the remainder of the series too.

Broad’s new-ball partner, James Anderson, too isn’t fully fit because of tightness in his left quad. England have thus called up Lancashire seamer Saqib Mahmood as cover.

“He (Broad) underwent an MRI in London on Wednesday lunchtime, which revealed a tear. Broad sustained the injury during the warm-up on Tuesday afternoon at Lord’s,” said a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

It will be a severe jolt to the England bowling attack if Anderson too misses the second Test. The team management may have to include both Craig Overton and Mark Wood in the XI, but they would be far from ideal replacements for the veteran duo who have an impressive record at Lord’s alongside sharing 1,145 Test wickets between them.

The last time England played without both Broad and Anderson in a Test was back in October 2016 against Bangladesh at Mirpur.

In the current situation, spinner all-rounder Moeen Ali’s inclusion in the XI becomes closer to being a formality as he can also provide a bit of cushion to England’s vulnerable batting.

Points docked

Both India and England have been fined 40 per cent of their match fees and docked two World Test Championship points each for maintaining slow over rates in the first Test.