JOSHUA: I’LL WIN FIGHT IN MY HEAD
ANTHONY’S PLEDGE
a whopping 30 overs, that is helping to keep him going. Anderson has four years on Broad and is still delivering, so the Nottinghamshire man reckons he should still be at the heart of England’s attack as long as he is doing the same as he did here. “We know how much it means to players when they get hundreds, or take wickets in a Test match,” said Broad. “There’s no better feeling than to do it in Ashes cricket.
“It means the world to me, so I enjoy playing against Australia. I always find them a really tough battle.
“I play sport for the competitive side of it and I’ve still got a burning desire to play. Jimmy has been an inspiration for me. I see how much drive he’s still got at 39 – how much energy he puts into not just the match-days but the training and the skill development.
“He has averaged 21 since turning 35, so why can’t I? I’m not as skilful as him, but I’m as motivated and dedicated.”
Broad was speaking ahead of England’s next chance to perform with the bat in the first innings of a Test match, and performances have clearly frustrated him.
The way Khawaja was able to put on partnerships with Steve Smith who made 67, Cummins and Mitchell Starc was the key to Australia reaching 416-8 and that is one area where England have gone wrong too often.
Broad said: “You can dissect loads on this trip but actually first-innings runs is where you live in Test cricket. We’ve failed to deliver that. It doesn’t matter what bowlers you play if you get bowled out for 140. That might be a bit brutal but that’s the truth in Test cricket.”
If Broad was the star turn with the ball, spare a thought for Jack Leach who teased an edge from Khawaja when he had made 28, only to see yet another chance grassed by Joe Root at slip, via Jos Buttler’s glove.
Leach and Mark Wood deserved far more than the one wicket between them, especially with Ben Stokes leaving the field with a side injury.
ANTHONY JOSHUA insists he will redeem himself against Oleksandr Usyk after he admitted his previous defeat left him mentally broken.
The Watford star is set to face the Ukrainian in a rematch for the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles in April.
Joshua, 32, (right) lost the belts to Usyk in September after he was outpointed in London.
It was the second defeat of his pro career after a shock knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jnr in 2019 – which he later avenged.
Joshua said: “The Usyk defeat hurt as I was at 100 percent, but I lost to the better man on the night. It gave me motivation to pull myself out of a place where mentally it killed me. I’ve fought my way back and will redeem myself.”