England vs India: Batman Mask Inspires Stuart Broad for Oval Test
England pacer Stuart Broad plans to wear a mask to protect his fractured nose when he steps out for the final Test against India. He tweeted an image of Batman and Bane as two possible options.
Stuart Broad seeks to mask his pain, quite literally. The England speedster who suffered a fractured nose after being hit by a Varun Aaron bouncer in the fourth Test, plans to 'cover up' and is looking at headgears of Batman or super villain Bane as some options. (Complete coverage of England vs India series)
Broad was struck between the peak of his helmet and the grille on Day 3 of the Test that England won by an innings and 54 runs. On Sunday, the 28-year-old tweeted an image of his damaged nose and a day later, posted the adjoining image saying he won't mind sporting the rather unconventional headgears. "Just browsing the web for a mask to wear at the Oval. Couple of early favourites...," he wrote on the micro-blogging website.
England - 2-1 up in the series vs India - named an unchanged 13-member side for the final Test. Broad, who has 16 wickets from the first four Tests, is raring to add to his tally.
The determination to play the final Test may also be because Broad is expected to be out of action after the series due to a knee surgery. British media had reported that the player will get operated for a patella tendonitis in his right knee. The medical procedure is expected to keep him off the cricket field for three months but sources close to Broad were quoted as saying that the bowler wants to be fully fit before the World Cup next year.