Broad: I’m excited to resume hostilities with fiery Warner
STUART BROAD cannot wait to renew his battle with australia opener david Warner after his record-breaking success against him four years ago.
Broad dismissed Warner seven times during the 2–2 draw in 2019 at a personal cost of just 35 runs. no bowler in Test history has dismissed a batsman more often in a series at a lower average, adding extra spice — if it were needed — to the ashes opener at Edgbaston on June 16.
Broad, who has taken Warner’s wicket 14 times — more than any other bowler — admitted he thought the Hobart Test in January 2022 might be the last time the pair, both now 36, crossed paths. They even shared a glass of red to mark the occasion.
‘I’m looking forward to going to battle with davey again,’ said Broad. ‘ He had the better of me for quite a long period, and the biggest praise I can give him is the fact I had to study him and change my style of bowling because of his success.
‘He’s someone I’ve really enjoyed playing against.
He’s fiery and ferociously competitive, and those sorts of characters bring out the best in me as well.’
Warner is under pressure for his place after a strange home summer in which he scored a double-hundred against South africa but failed to reach 50 in 10 other Test innings. and Broad said he was unsure whether Warner would be able to play the ball, not the man.
‘Justin langer (then australia’s coach) made a couple of comments after the ’19 ashes that he felt Warner had got to the stage in his netting where he was almost too focused on my style of bowling,’ said the nottinghamshire seamer. Since then Broad has been studying Steve Smith and Marnus labuschagne, announcing that he has developed an outswinger for both men.
‘I’d be wrong if I hadn’t researched what I need to do against different players,’ he said. ‘That was one of my greatest strengths against david Warner. I did so much research on him, and I realised I had to miss leg side rather than off side because he doesn’t hit through mid-wicket. My numbers are high against Smudge and labuschagne in recent series so I need to do something different.’
Broad will be taking part in his ninth ashes, but talk of retirement has been put on hold because he’s never had so much fun. He even says he’s ‘addicted’ to the dressing room. ‘ I’m loving the circus, the to and fro between the players,’ he said.
‘ It’s a bit like a boxing match building up to Edgbaston. I was only just starting my professional journey in
2005, but this feels on a par with that type of build- up. australia have an undoubted belief that they’ll come and win here, and we’ve got an undoubted belief that we’re going to win.
‘I can’t think of that many series where both teams genuinely feel like they’re favourites. That’s a really cool place for the game to be.’
Broad, though, is backing the Bazball approach that has so far brought coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes 10 wins out of 12. ‘Every bowling attack we’ve played so have gone, “They can’t do it against us”, haven’t they? dean Elgar was quite vocal on that. and the aussies will feel that as well.’
as if Broad wasn’t enjoying himself enough, Marmite and the Barmy army have teamed up to compose a new song on his behalf, to the tune of abba’s Voulez-Vous — including lines about Warner nicking off and hitting nathan lyon for six.
‘The Barmy army bring energy all the time,’ he said. ‘ That first Test at Edgbaston is going to be electric.’ Follow @Marmite on Instagram & TikTok to see the results of the new song #SpreadTheLove