BROAD FIT FOR INDIAN SUMMER
. . . but if I have to skip one Test to stay in prime shape, so be it
STUART BROAD believes he is ‘100 per cent fit’ going into Wednesday’s first Test against India at Edgbaston, but he will not take it personally if he has to sit out a game as England nurse their seam attack through five gruelling matches in six weeks.
Broad has been recovering from an injury to his left ankle but the time in rehab has also allowed him to recharge his batteries as he prepares to take on one of the world’s most formidable batting line-ups.
England will be grateful. Two previous home series against India have brought Broad 44 wickets at the phenomenal average of 17, including a hattrick at Trent Bridge in 2011. In 2014 he ran through them at Manchester with six for 25.
‘ We haven’t had a huge amount of overs towards the end of June and July so we’re going into a five-Test series in just over six weeks really fresh,’ said Broad.
‘As a professional in this country you could be going into August a little tired. Here’s another warm-up, that sort of thing. But the likes of Cooky, myself and Jimmy Anderson should be able to bring a lot of energy to the guys who have been playing all summer.
‘I see that as a big positive. I am going in 100 per cent fit and you can’t say that too often, so it’s an exciting place to be.’
But Broad was also philosophical about the possibility of missing a game if it means being at his best in, say, four of the Tests. The gaps in days between each match are just three, four, seven and three, though it is hard to imagine Broad sitting out either the second Test at Lord’s or the third at his home ground, Trent Bridge.
‘There have already been small conversations about, “You shouldn’t be disheartened if you are left out for a Test match”,’ he said. ‘It’s not a personal attack or dropping, it’s a management of our bowlers to make sure we give ourselves the best chance.’
Perhaps Broad’s biggest challenge will be working with Anderson to keep Virat Kohli quiet. In the first Test four years ago at Trent Bridge, Broad removed him for one and eight, kick-starting a miserable series in which India’s star batsman averaged just 13. A repeat would go a long way to ensuring an England win.
‘ I really don’t agree with the theory that one particular bowler can target a world-class batsman,’ he said. ‘You have to have that pressure and theatre at both ends against that sort of quality. That’s when you get mistakes.
‘If he’s able to watch Jimmy and play carefully but score off me, you’re taking away any advantage as a team. As a bowling unit we will have to make it hard for all of their batsmen to score early runs but particularly a key player like Virat. We have to try and create pressure.’
Stuart Broad was speaking at the launch of ‘The Test Experts’ Specsavers as Official Test Partner for England ahead of the 1,000th Test.