Broad: tables have turned

STUART BROAD believes England’s comprehensive win in Cardiff has turned this Ashes series on its head and it is now Australia who have serious questions to answer heading into Thursday’s second Test at Lord’s. Broad and his team-mates are riding on the crest of a wave under new coach Trevor Bayliss after sealing a crushing 169-run victory in the series opener in Wales. It’s a far cry from two months ago when defeat in Barbados handed England a frustrating 1-1 Test series draw in the West Indies and saw Peter Moores sacked as coach. But Australia have lost Ryan Harris to retirement and could be without another key bowler in Mitchell Starc, a serious doubt for Lord’s with an ankle injury. They also have selection issues over ageing wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and allrounder Shane Watson, meaning pre-series predictions of a first Australian win in England for 14 years are looking a little misguided. ‘You never want to see a fellow professional being injured,’ said Broad of Starc and Harris. ‘But there are questions being asked about their team. A month ago you would have flipped that around — there were questions about our team and not so much about Australia. But that is credit to how the players have played.’ After series-defining Ashes spells in 2009 at The Oval and Durham in 2013, Broad, 29, seems to save his best for the Australians. With five wickets in Cardiff, he is clearly up for the challenge again. ‘I don’t know what it is, I just enjoy the Ashes,’ he said. ‘It makes me tick.’ Broad will head to Lord’s on 292 Test wickets with one eye on breaking the 300 barrier. ‘It would be amazing to get there,’ he said. ‘I’d love to do it in this series and if I don’t I think I’ll get dropped!’

Stuart Broad was speaking courtesy of Hardys of Australia, sponsors of England Cricket.