Of course I hit it... but an Aussie wouldn’t have walked
STUART BROAD came out fighting yesterday, not only in targeting a 4- 0 demolition of Australia at The Oval this week but also against those who attacked him for not walking in the incident which marred the Trent Bridge Test.
The man whose devastating spell at Durham clinched the Ashes for England admitted he knew he had hit a ball from Ashton Agar in the first Test that ended up at first slip but remains unrepentant about his ‘win-at-all-costs’ policy.
Broad’s feisty attitude has made him a firm favourite with England coach Andy Flower and a feared opponent but it can rest uneasily with those who felt that his failure to walk after such a clear edge was against the spirit of cricket.
‘It was an odd one because there was no particular noise,’ said Broad. ‘It was just the noise of Brad Haddin’s gloves that could be heard.
‘It’s a bit silly when people say I edged to slip because it was actually an edge to the keeper that went off his gloves to slip. I went down the other end and Ian Bell said, “What’s happened there? I didn’t hear anything”. And Agar
“We do have a win-at-all-costs mentality”
asked me if I’d nicked it because he wasn’t sure. It wasn’t as clear-cut as everybody thought.’
One man, however, knew he had touched the ball.
‘Yes, I knew I’d hit it,’ said Broad. ‘But if you go through the series and look at the Australian players who have nicked it and not walked you could name several — Warner, Rogers, Khawaja, Smith, Clarke, Agar. I mean it’s quite a lot of players for it to be a big issue. Why are people picking on me? Well, it’s the way our media works I suppose.’
There were, of course, no complaints from the opposition about Broad’s stance, which saw him survive because umpire Aleem Dar did not hear the edge. Broad believes that reflects a difference in attitude between the countries.
‘Australian cricket has a win-atall- costs mentality whereas in England it can be ‘ let’s shake hands and have a beer’,’ he said.
‘Maybe that’s why they won non- stop for 20 years against us but there’s one thing for sure about this England team and that is we’re tough. We’ve come through tricky times and have stood up to be counted. We do have a win-at-all-costs mentality.
‘We’ve been accused of all sorts of things this summer, like the tripe about tape on our bats, but that’s not what the series will be remembered for. It’s winning that will be remembered.’
Broad expects a lively reception
STUART BROAD when he travels to Australia for the return series this winter, but it is a prospect he relishes.
‘I expect so if Twitter is anything to go by,’ he said. ‘I haven’t had a very polite response. But I thrive on that. You don’t want the Aussies loving you because it probably means you’re rubbish.’
England’s Twenty20 captain believes his spell of six for 50 on that memorable fourth evening at Chester-le-Street will go down as the best of the match-winning spells that have punctuated his Test career.
‘I was flying that evening,’ he said. ‘I seem to go three or four Tests getting myself under pressure then take a five- or six-for. I am hoping with age it will just happen more consistently.
‘I’m only 27. A lot of players have their best years between 27 and 32. It’s exciting to think there is a lot more to go.
‘It’s been amazing to have played in three Ashes series and won all three. Myself, Graeme Swann and Matt Prior have not been on the losing end of an Ashes series and I want that to continue for as long as possible.’
England’s latest celebratory moment will come at the end of the final Test, which begins tomorrow. ‘Winning 4-0 is on our minds and for that to happen we must keep on throwing punches,’ added Broad.