Retire? You’ve got to be joking! LIFE’S A BEACH
REJUVENATED BROAD RARING TO GO.. JUST DON’T MENTION THE ‘R’ WORD
STUART BROAD reckons he is back to his best as he lines up for five rounds of combat with India.
And just in case anyone was thinking of bringing it up, Broad has warned not to even mention the ‘R’ word.
After a tough Ashes Down Under, Broad worked hard on mending his action and there was progress in New Zealand, but questions have still been asked of his desire and ability in this later phase of his career.
But nothing could be further from Broad’s mind and he reckons that a series of injections in a sore ankle has worked a treat so the 32-year-old pace bowler can hit the ground running next month.
“I sometimes get dragged into that older category because I started so young, but I’m still young enough to play as much cricket as I have the drive for,” said Broad.
“I feel like the action is in a good place, I’m getting good bounce and good pace. I’m bowling at a keeper in the nets and they’ve said it is the quickest I’ve bowled for a couple of years.
“My wrist is fully behind the ball and I feel as good as I have done probably since 2015.
“When you get past 30, I’m old enough and experienced enough to know that questions get asked of you and that is just natural and part of the game, but when it is unreasonable then you think it is a bit of a shame.” Are they unreasonable though? Broad’s 2015 high point came at Trent Bridge when he took 8-15 against Australia in the Ashes, but it remains his last fivewicket haul in a home Test match.
And whereas the soon-to-be 36 James Anderson has enjoyed an Indian summer of his own, taking 73 wickets since the start of 2017, Broad has claimed just 49. But it would be a huge mistake for Joe Root and England to discard Broad at the point in which his extra work could pay dividends against a strong India line-up on dry pitches.
And with the Ashes next summer, they will need their two bowling pillars to have at least one big series left in them.
“We haven’t mentioned retirement,” added Broad. “Jimmy has fired in such a consistent couple of years, which gives me a lot of excitement because if he can do that at 34-35 then there is no reason I can’t do the same having just turned 32.
“A huge goal of mine is to regain those Ashes in 2019 – No.1, top of the list, but what is it that is going to make me a better cricketer in the short term to be in that team, fit and firing and the guy Rooty looks to?
“I don’t think we can rely on green seamers where the ball swings and nips the way the summer has been. We will have to adapt, because they are not going to be pitches we would dream to play on. “I’m setting goals I can push towards now rather than look at ‘end of career’ because once you do that you slow down as a person and I’m not at that stage at the moment.”