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Loughborough: England quick Stuart Broad cannot wait to return and help boost the team's Ashes preparations by winning the upcoming one-day series against Australia after several weeks in the gym.
The Nottinghamshire pace bowler was included in England's 13-man squad for the five-match series starting later this month after being rested from the 2-0 Test series win over Bangladesh so as to undergo a "strengthening" programme.
Broad, 23, has spent the intervening weeks hitting the weights at the National Cricket Academy in Loughborough, central England, and now, having helped England beat Australia in last month's World Twenty20, is keen to put that gym work to use when the five match one-day series starts on June 22.
"I'm really keen to get back," said Broad.
"It's hard for any professional sportsmen when you are not playing because you are not used to it," the son of former England opening batsman turned match referee Chris, said.
"I came to Lord's on the Saturday of the first Test in my jeans and shirt and I'm usually in the dressing room!
"The time off gives you a great buzz for though.
"I'm certainly excited about continuing our momentum by beating the Aussies in a one-day series this summer. We know how hard that is going to be as a team but we are ready for it."
Broad, who helped England regain the Ashes last year, declined the chance to play in the Indian Premier League so as to stay fit for international cricket.
Even so, the selectors left him out of the Bangladesh Tests.
But with matches against Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh still to come before England start their Ashes defence in Australia in November, Broad beleieves his recent break will prove to be the right move in the long run.
"Ultimately, I really do think it was a good decision," he said.
"It was tough on the body though. I was in the gym five days a week. One day I'd be doing maximum strength training on the legs, where I'd be lifting as heavy squats as I could, then the next day will be upper body doing bench press stuff.
"It's left me sore but that's how you strengthen and that's what I have needed to do.
"It's nice to see the hierarchy are looking not one or two weeks down the line, but months down the line instead."
Middlesex quick Steven Finn led England's attack against Bangladesh in Broad's absence with 15 wickets in two Tests.
But the 21-year-old will now be put on a similiar conditioning programme after being left out of the one-day squad.
"We have seen already how much of a talent he is and I think it's important he stays injury-free and fresh," said Broad.
"It's good to see the management looking after him instead of just bowling him into the ground which could have left him injured when the Ashes came round."
England were given a reality check by Australia shortly after the Ashes win when they were thrashed 6-1 by the tourists in the subsequent ODI series.
However, Broad said: "That was a long time ago. We didn't play particularly well but we had a real revamp when we went to the Champions Trophy and we have played a totally different brand of cricket since."
