How Hadlee’s advice helped Broad At a glance
Sir Richard Hadlee watched like a proud coach from his Christchurch lounge room as Stuart Broad scythed through Australia’s batting lineup on the other side of the world.
England’s leading wicket-taker in the 2-2 Ashes series draw with Australia credited the New Zealand cricketing knight’s email in January as a major reason for his bowling revival, uncertain if he was even assured in the test XI.
Broad grew up watching and idolising Hadlee, a friend and former team-mate of his father Chris at Nottinghamshire, and sought advice during England’s spindominated series in Sri Lanka last year.
‘‘He sent me a detailed, twopage email in reply about why he changed and what he did. It was awesome. That in particular was what inspired me to go for it,’’ Broad wrote for the Daily Mail in January.
At that stage Broad had just passed Hadlee’s tally of 431 test wickets but, as he eyed his 33rd birthday, he wanted to extend his career at the top level by shortening his run-up, ‘‘making myself more compact at the crease and heightening my release position’’.
His mimicry of Hadlee extended to watching video of every ball he bowled against England at Edgbaston in 1990, his farewell series.
Hadlee was only too happy to assist Broad, but played down his impact.
‘‘I can’t take any credit because advice is advice, and you’ve still got to get out there and adapt and perform. He’s absolutely done that,’’ Hadlee told Stuff.
In the injury absence of his regular new-ball partner Jimmy Anderson, Broad took 23 wickets at 26.65 across the five tests, second only to Australia’s Pat Cummins (29 wickets at 19.62).
Included in that haul was Australian opener David Warner a remarkable seven times in 10 innings as he averaged 9.5 for the series.
Said Hadlee: ‘‘To see him mature and develop and perform the way that he has . . . he’s on the verge of greatness. He’s passed all the wickets that I got and the bowling combination with Jimmy Anderson make them categorically the most successful new ball attack in the history of the game.’’
Hadlee recalled watching Broad bowl as a teenager and how he’d supported a charity event to raise money to send him to Melbourne to play club cricket when he was 17. Leading wicket-takers in test cricket:
■ 800: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
■ 708: Shane Warne (Australia)
■ 619: Anil Kumble (India)
■ 575: James Anderson* (England) ■ 563: Glenn McGrath (Australia)
■ 519: Courtney Walsh (West Indies)
■ 467: Stuart Broad* (England)
■ 439: Dale Steyn (South Africa)
■ 434: Kapil Dev (India)
■ 433: Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) ■ 431: Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
* Still active
The former tearaway fast bowler made the big decision at age 29 to shorten his run-up amid much controversy, with Hadlee recalling suggestions he was taking short-cuts. It extended his test career by another 10 years as he pulled stumps at 39 in that 1990 England series.
Next up for Broad is New Zealand where he’ll likely lead the England attack into the first test at Mount Maunganui on November 21 with Anderson reportedly looking increasingly doubtful.
Hadlee has no problem giving advice to a bowler who may cause his countrymen headaches. In 14 tests against the Black Caps, Broad has 62 wickets at 26.
‘‘He’s a professional cricketer who’s done wonders for England and served his country well. I wouldn’t deny anyone success. If you’re good enough to defeat your opponent then fair play and we [New Zealand] have to be good enough to handle him [in November].’’