England seamer Stuart Broad has moved to reassure fans after being hit by a golf ball, taking to social media to show off the newly formed bruise and confirm that all is well.
The 31-year-old has been hitting the courses Down Under in the build up to the Ashes and has been seen out on the fairways with team-mate Jimmy Anderson.
Broad was trying his accuracy on the putting greens when he was hit from behind by a stray shot, catching him on the small of his back.
Stuart Broad took to Instagram to show off his golf ball bruise, much to Joe Root’s amusement
The Nottingham-born ace took to his official Instagram account to share an image of himself, flashing a cheeky grin to the camera with the bruise visibly on show.
Caption the snap Broad wrote: ‘**WARNING** Graphic Image. Golf ball bruise. If you look really hard you can see it.
Broad’s cheeky response came as a result of a dig from Australian cricket journalist Peter Lalor, who quickly put out a tweet after news of his golfing incident first began to circulate.
Earlier, Broad had shared the post from Lalor who had tweeted: ‘Hearing that Stuart Broad was hit on the shoulder by a golf ball in Brisbane today. Had to ice it. Nor confirmed. #getreadyforabrokenf***ingshoulder’
Broad had also shared a screenshot of a dig from Australian cricket journalist Peter Lalor
The tongue in cheek jibe served to stoke up atmosphere before the looming Ashes showdown, making reference to multiple shoulder injuries the player has sustained in the past.
Broad is no stranger to finding himself in the firing line in Brisbane, where the home crowd and press delivered a barrage of verbal bouncers in his direction on his last Ashes trip.
He became public enemy number one in 2013-14 when most of Australia remained irked by his decision four months earlier not to walk off in the Trent Bridge Test after edging a ball – via the wicketkeeper’s gloves – to slip.
In response, Brisbane’s Courier Mail refused to name him – referring instead to ‘the 27-year-old medium-pacer’, and printing only washed-out and faceless silhouettes of him.
Broad has been taking to the course of Brisbane along with team-mate Jimmy Anderson
An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman confirmed Broad is ‘fine’ ahead of the Ashes
Broad has spoken several times in the lead-up to this Ashes campaign, which begins at the Gabba on Thursday, of his curiosity to see what is in store for him here this time.
There has been nothing of note, however, since England’s arrival on Sunday until – in the expected sanctuary of Brisbane Golf Club – he was hit by a stray ball on the lower back while he was bending down to size up a practice putt.
An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said: ‘Stuart was practising on the putting green when he was hit by a stray golf ball from a member.
‘He is fine, and no dramas.’