Broad now hoping to take centre stage for an encore
STU HUNTING FIRST AWAY HAT-TRICK OF HIS CAREER
STUART BROAD believes he can pull back the curtains at the Bullring and provide yet more theatre as part of a first away hat-trick of his career.
Four years after one of his great fast-bowling performances at the famous old ground, Broad returns to the Wanderers today at the age of 33 dreaming of a repeat of his 6-17 that took him to No1 in the world rankings.
He is England’s leading wickettaker in the current Test series with 12 scalps at an average of 18.25 and, even though he has played 137 matches, he has never won three games in a row away from home.
And he claims this could be the perfect place for him to deliver another one of those gamechanging spells that he is renowned for and seal the 3-1 series win.
“I feel very confident at the minute,” said Broad. “But I’ve not had one of those spells where I’ve really snapped through a team. The Wanderers could be it.
“Last time I think the theatre around the spell was exciting to bowl. It was a good spell in that we had a 13-run lead and it sort of sealed the series.
“Looking back, it wasn’t a particularly impressive spell of bowling, but the wickets came and that’s cricket. I felt there was theatre that day. If you can create theatre as a fast bowler, a lot of the time things will work for you as the pressure builds on a team.”
Without the injured James Anderson, 37, alongside him, Broad is now the elder statesman of the side and is adding huge value off the field by passing on his knowledge to younger team-mates.
And despite the march of white-ball variations, he has been reassured that the latest crop of English players are desperate to succeed at Test cricket above all else.
“I feel like I can share a lot of experience in the group and the young players really listen to that sort of thing,” he added.
“You’ve got guys hungry and desperate to develop as Test playing cricketers: Pope, Crawley, Sibley, Curran, Archer.
“There’s this myth around sometimes that all youngsters want to do is play Twenty20 cricket, but all these players have a desperate desire to have long, successful, Ashes-winning Test careers.
“It’s a different kind of role for me. You start to care a little bit less about your own performances and start to care about other people’s.That sounds cheesy but it’s true.
“I know I can still deliver when the heat is on and the pressure is burning. I’ve still got a lot of fire in the belly and as soon as that fire goes, I know my bowling boots will go.”