Broad '100% fit' ahead of World Cup

	Stuart Broad will fly out with the England squad on Saturday © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Stuart Broad Series/Tournaments: ICC Cricket World Cup Teams: England

On the eve of England's departure for the World Cup fast bowler Stuart Broad has declared himself 100% fit after recovering from an abdominal injury that has kept him out of action since the Adelaide Ashes Test in December.

England's ODI fortunes have suffered in Broad's absence, as they slumped to a 6-1 defeat in a gruelling series against Australia. England are still feeling the affects of a lengthy winter's work with Eoin Morgan ruled out with a broken finger and Graeme Swann, Tim Bresnan, Ajmal Shahzad and Paul Collingwood all nursing injuries.

Chris Tremlett will travel with the squad as a back-up seamer but news of Broad's recovery is a major boost for a side that hasn't passed the quarter-final stage of the World Cup since 1992.

"I'm 100% fit now and excited about the chances of playing in a World Cup," Broad told ESPNCricinfo. "It's been a while since I've been on a field. I've been in the gym and in the nets but I'm excited about that competitive edge you get on the pitch and excited about our chances as well."

Until the side were derailed in Australia by series of lacklustre batting efforts England have had a good run in limited-overs cricket. They won the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean last year and have won five ODI series in a row - beating South Africa, Australia and Pakistan in an undefeated run that stretches back to a 6-1 loss to Australia, again, after the 2009 Ashes win.

"We've been in really good ODI form over the past two years, this was our first series defeat since Australia 2009 so we know we're a talented ODI team it's important we get four or five injured players back on the park and we'll be almost at full strength."

The key to England's limited-overs success has been Eoin Morgan, whose inventive and nerveless batting has underpinned a strong batting line-up. In games England have won he's averaged 59.66 compared to 24.90 when they lose. Broad admits that his absence is "a huge loss" but remains upbeat about their chances.

England's first task will be their warm-up match against Canada in Bangladesh on February 16 and Broad insists they will be ready for it.

"We take every game seriously, we prepare properly and make sure there's no stone left unturned it's important for the group and even our warm-up games to make sure we hit the ground running because you can't just turn on a good performance you have to be good throughout."

Stuart Broad was speaking at Lord's at the launch of the Broad Appeal, which seeks to raise awareness and money for research about Motor Neuron Disease for the MND Association.