Gaji
England have troubles to address if they are to fight back in the NatWest Series, but captain Alastair Cook is not panic yet about Stuart Broad's form.
Broad was wicketless once more at Lord's - he has yet to strike in three 50-over fixtures next to Sri Lanka so far - having learn before start of play yesterday that he must also fork out 50% of his match fee for losing his temper at Headingley.
Broad will head for his home ground of Trent Bridge on Wednesday nursing series figures of none for 154. But after England's six-wicket beat at HQ, centurion Cook said of the fast bowler's barren run: "I think it's just one of those things."
Cook saw sufficient in Broad's labors - particularly when bowling to man-of-the-match Dinesh Chandimal (105no) - to help him keep the faith.
"In a pair of overs when he was bowling forcefully at the guy who got a hundred, he hit the gloves and got the ball to bounce up.
"He had a short-leg in, and they just kept avoid him. "At the instant it's not fairly going for Broady, a bit like the Test matches. "But this is what cricket does, and if he get five-for next time on his home ground it will be welcome."
As for Broad's financial punishment from International Cricket Council match referee Alan Hurst in Leeds, it seems both bowler and captain have established he was at fault for apparently swearing at umpire Billy Bowden over a not-out lbw decision.
"He oversteps the mark," said Cook. "But when he bowled forcefully he made it painful - that's what Stuart does well. "Broady's always played that way. That's part of what's made him get so far in the game so quickly.
"Occasionally he has overstepped the mark. But when you're wrong you're wrong, you put your hands up - and he admits that."
Broad's woes are not the only mark of bother for England at present following yesterday's six-wicket defeat.
Their critics also point to natural accumulators Cook and Jonathan Trott's tricky co-existence at numbers one and three in a limited-over batting line-up - while there is also the question of whether an extra spin alternative may serve them better in the bowling attack.
"We're going to appraisal this game, like we always do, and we'll try to pick the best side to win the game," said Cook, looking onward to Nottingham.
"If it's going to fly throughout we want four quicks. We're happy with that, but we can change that side."
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