STILL ON BROAD
Silverwood backs passion of bowler after axing him EOIN’S UP FOR WORLD PARTY
STUART BROAD has been assured he still has a big role to play for England with head coach Chris Silverwood insisting his outburst at being dropped showcased hunger not bitterness.
England’s second most successful wickettaker let known his frustrations in a TV interview during the first Test after he was benched at Southampton last week.
After the joint decision of stand-in captain Ben Stokes and Silverwood to op for the express pace of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, Broad let fly saying he was “frustrated, gutted and angry”.
Yesterday, Silverwood, who looks likely to restore Broad to the team at Old Trafford as England look to level the series after their defeat in Southampton, insisted he stood by his decision to leave him out.
More importantly, the England coach praised his reaction to being dropped.
Silverwood said: “I think Stuart handled himself very well during that interview, to be honest.
“What I did love about it, and subsequently the conversations I’ve had with him, is that passion, that drive is still there.
“To see that in someone who’s done as much in the game as he has, I find it very exciting to be honest. And Stuart still has a big role to play within this team. And I’ve made that very clear to him.”
Selector Ed Smith proved a useful lightning rod for Broad’s anger given the bowler had no wish to criticise Stokes or Silverwood.
But the latter stressed Smith’s involvement in the selection ended with the delivery of a 13-man squad.
“The selectors help us pick the 13 then the
■ final 11 comes down to Ben and myself,” said Silverwood.
“The decision was made because of what we felt we needed on this pitch. As Ben did, I stand by the decision. We saw in the game as well that some of the bowlers that did have an impact was pace.
“Shannon Gabriel came in, as did Alzarri Joseph. We saw Jofra involved – he bowled a beautiful opening spell.
“So pace did play a part in that so I stand by that decision.”
Silverwood is also set to stand by Jos Buttler despite growing concern about his inability to translate white-ball dominance to the longer format.
Buttler had a dismal Test in Southampton, falling in the second innings for nine to continue a run of 12 innings without a half century.
He also dropped match-winner Jermaine Blackwood on 20 and saw him make 95 as West Indies landed the first blow of the series.
With Ben Foakes considered a better gloveman, pressure is building but Silverwood insisted he was not about to load more on to Buttler.
He said. “First and foremost we want to give Jos the best opportunity to succeed.
“Yes we have got a very, very good gloveman in Ben Foakes out there but it’s about making sure Jos feels confident in the environment he’s in.
“We’ll give him the best chance to succeed. The rest of it is, he has a good day out, gets some runs, hopefully the rest will be history.”
EOIN MORGAN says England’s dramatic World Cup final win last year created “bonds for life” between him and his team-mates.
But he admitted they have not yet proved strong enough to get people together for a party to celebrate their incredible achievement.
It was 12 months ago today that England beat New Zealand on boundary countback in a sensational climax to a tense final at Lord’s.
Morgan took time to reflect on the greatest day in English cricket history and said: “The final was actually bigger than cricket and was propelled into one of the highlights of a sporting day ever in British history.
“The dramatic nature of the day really does do wonders for sport and that will be around for a very long time.
“It will create bonds for life, as going through those highs and lows is something that all of us will have until the day we die.
“But one thing we’ve found unbelievably challenging is that we haven’t been able to get the whole group of players, that squad of 15 together since the day after the World Cup final.
“One of the aims is to do it sooner rather than later, to have a dinner, a bit of a party where we can get friends and family and all the players and staff together.
“Logistically it’s proving to be unbelievably challenging. But given any excuse, I love to celebrate, it’s an important thing to do.”