Having been forced to buy his first winter coat in years, Stuart Broad is now hoping to enjoy the warmth of another first with England – a World Cup triumph.

While his England team-mates are warming up for the World Cup in the heat of Sri Lanka, Broad has been wrapping up here in Nottingham and rebuilding his fitness at Trent Bridge ahead of the tournament, following knee surgery in September.

And he says he has really felt the cold, having spent most winters in recent years in places like West Indies rather than West Bridgford and Australia and New Zealand, where the World Cup will be staged in February.

"It's the first time I've ever had to buy a winter coat," he said.

"I'm looking forward to the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge and hope that the fourth match in the series will be as critical as it usually is." Stuart Broad

"Time away from the game has given me a burning desire to get fit and get back out there in a Notts and England shirt."

Broad, 28, last played for England in August, in a Test match against India at The Oval, before having his operation.

Having since undergone most of his rehabilitation at Trent Bridge, the bowler will soon fly out to South Africa to complete it before England fly out to the World Cup at the start of next year.

"I had surgery on September 4 so it's been a long period of rehab, much of which I've spent at Trent Bridge," he said.

"Jon Alty, the Nottinghamshire physio, has worked me hard and kept me motivated and I've seen it as a bridge between two islands in my career. 

"I've worked hard to get fitter than I was and the next step is to travel to South Africa for some outdoor training with a view to getting on the plane to Australia on January 6.

"It's always disappointing to miss cricket for England and I'll sit out 12 ODIs, but it's done me a lot of good because I'll go into 2015 physically and mentally refreshed.

"We've got some huge series to play next year with a World Cup, a Caribbean tour and a home Ashes series.

"I'm looking forward to the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge and hope that the fourth match in the series will be as critical as it usually is.

"We could potentially win the Ashes here which would be great for me.”

Broad could be joined in England's World Cup squad by three Nottinghamshire team-mates, in bowler Harry Gurney and batsmen Alex Hales and James Taylor, who are all with the national squad in Sri Lanka for their warm-up series.

England will begin their campaign against hosts Australia in Melbourne on February 14 and will also face New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Pool A of the competition.

"We'll go to the World Cup as underdogs but I think we've got a fantastic chance," said Broad.

"We need to focus on the big games in the group and then when we get to the quarter-final it's a shoot out.

"England have never won a 50-over global tournament so that is our top priority.

"It's an incredible year of cricket and even though we'll be away from our own beds for 320 nights, it's a hugely exciting time."