Poor weather keeps Broad at home

Stuart Broad will not join up with the England ODI squad in India after poor weather prevented him from leaving London.

Broad had been rested for the first three ODIs and was scheduled to return for the final two matches but his departure was delayed by snow and freezing conditions at London Heathrow airport. With the forecast not set to improve quickly, Broad would have struggled to arrive in sufficient time for the fourth ODI on Wednesday.

Broad tweeted: "Gutted I can't get to India. I'm off home with all my luggage at Heathrow. I'll be waiting for the lads in New Zealand!!"

He will now remain in Britain and fly to New Zealand for the first warm-up match on February 4, ahead of the Twenty20 series for which Broad will resume the captaincy having been injured for England's two T20s against India before Christmas.

"It's not ideal because we were hoping for him to come out here and, whether or not he played in one of the last two games, just do some prep for New Zealand," England one-day coach Ashley Giles said. "But we have a bit of time in New Zealand and he'll meet us there."

It could be questioned how useful a week in India would be ahead of a tour to New Zealand where conditions will be a complete contrast. Broad will now return to Loughborough to continue his preparation.

And although there were doubts about Broad's fitness to play in India, his absence reduces England's options if they choose to make a change to their bowling attack. Jade Dernbach is the main candidate to be replaced after taking only four wickets in the series. The cost of his wickets - 46.75 - compares favourably to the other England seamers but his economy rate of 7.79 is by far the most expensive of the frontline bowlers on either side.

Giles said that part of the trip "was always about having a look at different options" and England could recall Chris Woakes, who took 1 for 60 in the second ODI, or pick Stuart Meaker, whose pace caused India problems in the T20 series. They also have left-arm spinner Danny Briggs in the squad if they need a second specialist slow bowler but conditions in Mohali for the fourth ODI are likely to provide more help to the quick bowlers.