BROAD SWORD
Stuart cuts through Pakistan and lays waste to the critics
STUART BROAD hit back with a defiant response to what he called the ‘illogical’ criticism of him and James Anderson after Lord’s.
England mined a rich seam of pace success at Headingley on the opening day of the second Test. And, inevitably, it was Broad and Anderson who led the way with three wickets apiece as they dismissed Pakistan for 174. But Broad took aim at the prematch comments of former skipper Michael Vaughan, who suggested he should be dropped – not because he was bowling badly but in order to “ruffle a few feathers”. Broad said: “I didn’t feel some of the flak that was coming my way was overly logical. “I like listening to and reading pundits, but I felt it was a bit unjustified. “I respect everyone’s opinion most of the time, especially when it is fair. I don’t think last week it was particularly fair. This time it did anger me a bit because I thought it was unfair and targeted. “I called Vaughany. I’m friends with him and I like sharing a glass of wine with him, but I called him and expressed my disappointment with it. “It was a complete shot in the dark. I don’t think he’s got much of an insight into what is going on in the England changing room, the players don’t talk to him about cricket.
“It put me under a bit more pressure this week, but part and parcel of our job at this level is coping with pressure and it was nice to get a few wickets.
“At this level, you’ve always got a point to prove. We didn’t do ourselves justice at Lord’s at all, so it was a very frustrating week for us – and we left angry as players. This almost feels a bit like a complete performance for a day.”
Despite Broad’s insistence that the criticism did not spur him into action, Vaughan will feel that his work is done in getting a wicket-taking response from Broad, who looked in fine fettle, using the swing from the mugginess in the atmosphere to good effect.
“My question is, why does it take so much prodding for them to turn up?” pondered Vaughan.
The truth is that Broad has bowled excellently since the Ashes and is back somewhere near his best as a threat with the ball, while Anderson has been remarkable for more than a year.
It is the batting department that requires the most work, so the sight of Keaton Jennings and Alastair Cook getting the team off to a reasonable start will do wonders.
There was still a touch of softness about Cook’s dismissal for 46 just minutes before the close.
But if Joe Root goes big on his home ground over the weekend there will be no need for any more ruffling.