Broad likely to be included in England squad for Boxing Day Test despite injury

England paceman Stuart Broad is reportedly likely to be included in the squad for the Boxing Day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) despite being struck on the foot by a searing Mitch Johnson delivery in Perth.

Broad was thought to be a likely exclusion for the showpiece match when he was still hobbling badly when England trained at the MCG at the weekend.

However, Fox News reports that after pulling up from Tuesday's net session without any obvious difficulties, Broad again trained well in the team's light session on Wednesday morning and completed fielding and running drills without apparent discomfort.

The report mentioned that if Broad still might yet keep Boyd Rankin, his likely successor, uncapped, adding that one change that can be confirmed is that tour vice-captain Matt Prior all but handed the wicketkeeping duties to Jonny Bairstow this morning.

Monty Panesar will come in for the retired Graeme Swann, with Australian captain Michael Clarke admitting he was stunned at the off-spinner's mid-series decision.