Broad in battle to get fired up

STUART BROAD admits he might have to pick a socially-distanced fight with the Windies batsmen to get his intensity up.

The sterile, bio-secure atmosphere at the Ageas Bowl is set to challenge all the players who are used to full houses for Test matches in this country.

For Broad in particular the silence will be deafening, which is why a battle between him and the batsmen could get him in the zone.

But he knows if he steps out of line he might be in hot water with the match referee – his dad Chris.

“It’s a worry for me because I know that I perform at my best when the game is at its most exciting and when the game needs changing,” said Broad.

“I do know that I thrive off the energy of something happening in the game, a bit of excitement, or with a big battle going on.

“I might do even more research into the opposition batsmen’s strengths and weaknesses, so I’m very focused on getting in a battle with the batsman instead of sometimes relying on the crowd to get your emotions going to be able to bowl at your best.

“I’ve already spoken to our sports psychologist about creating a bit of a mindset around making sure I can get my emotions up to where they need to be at my best.

“Maybe I have to pick more of a battle with the opposition and bring my dad into things a bit more.”

With 485 wickets over 12-and-a-half years as a Test cricketer, it would be a huge surprise if Broad wasn’t still a handful in home conditions.

As a comparison, in the UAE where crowds are thin on the ground for Test matches, Broad has taken 20 wickets at an average of 23 on pitches that do not help him.

Broad and the rest of England’s fast bowlers are in peak physical shape, which has meant searching examinations for the England batsmen in training because of the competition for places among the quicks. Coaches have even told them to calm down to avoid unnecessary injuries.

Broad, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, and Sam Curran are proven Test performers in the training squad but they cannot all play.

“From the training I’ve seen it’s pretty impressive what is going around and it has been intense. Actually, the coaches have been telling us to make sure we control it because we risk injury,” said Broad.

“I bowled with Mark Wood a couple of days ago and he is bowling beautifully, great control and pace.

“The dream ticket is to board a flight for Brisbane and the Ashes next year, and having this lot of fast bowlers all ready to go.”