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England bowlers Stuart Broad and Steven Finn to miss first two matches against New Zealand

The pace bowlers have both picked up injuries

Friday 31 May 2013 13:37 BST
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Stuart Broad celebrates his seven-wicket haul after the game is won (Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)
Stuart Broad celebrates his seven-wicket haul after the game is won (Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)

England will be without pace bowlers Stuart Broad and Steven Finn for today's NatWest Series opener against New Zealand at Lord's, and the second match in Southampton on Sunday.

Broad has a bruised right knee, an injury suffered on the final day of the second Test at Headingley, and Finn has a sore shin.

Both frontline seamers will be reassessed at the beginning of next week before England decide on their fitness for the final one-day international against the Kiwis on Wednesday at Trent Bridge.

Jade Dernbach, called into England's squad yesterday as cover for Tim Bresnan - whose wife is due to give birth to their first child soon - will play today, alongside all-rounder Chris Woakes.

England therefore retain their formula of four frontline seamers.

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl on a cloudy morning but were without spinner Daniel Vettori, who was hoping to make his comeback here after a long-term Achilles injury.

Off-spinner Nathan McCullum was therefore selected instead.

PA

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