Hot Stu is returning to boil for England
THOSE fabled hot spells may be spaced further apart than they were at his peak, but Stuart Broad proved he is not ready to bring the curtain down on his England career just yet.
A week which started with calls from former skipper Michael Vaughan for the fast bowler to be dropped in order to “ruffle feathers” ended with Broad doing exactly that.
But it was Pakistan whose plumage was looking worse for wear, not that of either of England’s prolific new-ball partnership. And it was Broad more than anyone who orchestrated the damage. After Pakistan captain Safraz Ahmed showed no hesitation in electing to bat on winning the toss, Broad produced a near unplayable three spells to take 3-38. He was unlucky not to emerge with five or more as Pakistan slumped to 174 all out before England tanked along happily to 106-2 at the close.
Broad has been the first to admit his form has been somewhere off his brilliant best and he endured a disappointing Ashes series in which he took 11 wickets at just under 48 apiece.
But he worked hard to try to get “back to basics” in the Trent Bridge nets in February, particularly trying to beat the outside edge of the righthander’s bat, and has started to show signs of renewal.
Anything he does from now until retirement is likely to remain in the shadow of that brilliant Ashes spell in 2015 when he ripped through the Aussies to claim 8-15, but first in Christchurch, where he took 6-54 in the first innings, and again here, he looks back on track.
Yesterday 24 per cent of Broad’s deliveries brought a play-and-a-miss, his highest figure for a Test innings.
The remodelling of his action in February was an attempt to correct his alignment to right-handers after he decided he was falling away in the delivery stride.
And while at Lord’s many felt he was unlucky having beaten both edges of the bat with some regularity, he was a threat here immediately both to orthodox and southpaw batsmen alike.
Broad was denied an opening wicket early in his first over when Imam-ul-Haq successfully reviewed a rising ball missing the top of the stumps, yet Broad got his man with the final delivery.
By the time he took the third of his wickets – Azhar Ali undone by a ball which seamed in and then debutant Usman Salahuddin pinned by a perfect inswinger – Pakistan’s effort was in ruins at 78-6.
In between Chris Woakes, replacing Mark Wood in the line-up, and Jimmy Anderson helped themselves to three wickets each. Sam Curran, on debut, took the final wicket.
The teenager did not look overawed for all that he posed little threat with his pace down on the remainder of
He was close to unplayable in his three spells
England’s attack. Replacing Ben Stokes is not an easy thing to do and he will gain confidence from his first effort.
Stokes appears likely to miss out on most or all of the limited-overs series against Australia after scans revealed he has torn his hamstring.
It was a poor batting performance from Pakistan, who ignored the lessons of their stubborn and disciplined display at Lord’s and repeatedly threw caution to the wind on a belter of a strip.
England were excellent but having got Pakistan six down, Joe Root was frustrated to let them climb to 174 with their final four wickets, Shadab Khan leading the resistance with a third half century in as many Tests and he was ably supported by Hasan Ali and Mohammad Amir. When Curran ended Pakistan’s innings just before tea it left England 37 overs. Keaton Jennings, reinstated to the side at the expense of Mark Stoneman just over nine months after he was unpicked by Vernon Philander and South Africa last summer, made a confident start but could not go on, falling on 29. Jennings has been in good nick for Lancashire with three centuries this season and looked in better shape, batting well out of his crease to negate late swing. Alastair Cook fell just short of a halfcentury, slashing at a short ball from Hasan Ali which he feathered behind, the opener visibly annoyed with himself. England are in a strong position to level this series, trailing by 68 runs with eight wickets in the tank, and will resume with Joe Root, unbeaten on 29, and nightwatchman Dom Bess in tandem. A big lead looks on the cards.