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Sidebottom out of Tests

Image: Sidebottom: going home

Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of England's Test series in Bangladesh, prompting call-ups for Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn.

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Bresnan to stay on after one-dayers, Finn added as cover

Ryan Sidebottom will take no further part in England's tour of Bangladesh after failing to recover from a thigh injury. The left-arm seamer will fly home for further treatment, prompting England to add Tim Bresnan to their Test squad and also call-up Steven Finn as cover. Bresnan, who has two Test caps, is already in Bangladesh with the one-day side, while uncapped Middlesex fast bowler Finn has impressed for the Lions on their tour of the Middle East this winter. Sidebottom returned figures of one for 1-46 in the first one-day international in Mirpur but damaged his right thigh in the process. England will also have the services of Durham paceman Graham Onions for the two-Test series after he was left out of the limited-overs squad - although he is currently struggling with a back problem.

Broad injured

Another bowler in England's squad suffering from a back injury is Stuart Broad, who has been ruled out of the third one-day international in Chittagong on Friday and the three-day warm-up match against Bangladesh A from March 7-9. Broad experienced discomfort during his second over in England's series-clinching, two-wicket victory on Tuesday. He delivered four more overs before leaving the field and did not bat during the tourists' run chase or take part in net practice on Thursday morning. His absence means there could be a one-day international debut for Yorkshire's Ajmal Shahzad, though Durham bowler Liam Plunkett is also available. "There has been a lot happening at the moment," said England team director Andy Flower. "Sidebottom has pulled a thigh muscle and will be going home on Saturday after the one-dayers have finished. He won't be fit for the Test matches so he has to go home. "Bresnan is going to take his place. He's staying on after the one-dayers." Flower continued: "We also have concerns over Broad and Onions. "Broad injured something in his back in the last ODI and Onions is also struggling with something in his back.
Scans
"Both of them are having MRI scans tomorrow (Friday) and we will know more about their results tomorrow afternoon. "Broad is definitely out for now, he couldn't practice today and he won't be right for the three-day game either. "Hopefully he will recover quickly and be ready for the first Test (Mar 12-16) but we can't be sure of that, which is part of the reason we are bringing young Steven Finn out. "Yes, we have had a little run of injuries but that happens with big, quick bowlers. They've got to put their bodies through quite an amazing amount of stress. "It does happen and you can't go through a long period of time without those guys picking up little injuries. "This situation will give people opportunities so it could be that something good comes out of it."

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