Broad smile on ‘best day ever’

STUART BROAD hailed the greatest moment of his career as England took a giant step towards reclaiming the Ashes on a day to savour in Nottingham. Broad took a sensational eight for 15 as Australia were demolished for 60 — their lowest Ashes score since 1936 — before an unbeaten 124 from Joe Root eased England to a dominant 274 for four at stumps. ‘It’s been the perfect day for us, probably one of the best England have had in the Ashes ever,’ said Broad. ‘To have a 214-run lead after day one is as powerful a

performance as I’ve ever seen. Rooty’s on fire — he’s one of the best in the world.’ But it was the bowling of Broad, who began the day on 299 Test wickets, that sent a capacity Trent Bridge crowd into raptures as Australia were skittled in 114 balls — the shortest first innings in Test history. Broad said: ‘It’s one of those days you dream of — your home ground, 300 Test wickets, then a career-best. My previous best was seven for 12 against Kimbolton School Under-15s, so it’s nice to get it against Australia. ‘I’ve always been one of these bowlers who gets on a rhythm, but I never dreamed I’d be able to get eight wickets like that. ‘Being in my home surroundings helped. We bowled really well, but that showed the wicket was doing just enough. It hasn’t sunk in yet.’ Stuart’s dad Chris told Test Match Special: ‘He chatted to me a few days ago and said: “All I want is one”. I was a bit concerned he was too focused on getting to 300. To get one in the first over was a release. Maybe it was meant to be that he comes to Trent Bridge and gets it here.’ Australia’s captain Michael Clarke, the fifth of Broad’s victims, said the day ranked as the hardest of his 114-Test career: ‘That’s as tough a day as you can have. Nothing went right at all. ‘It might look like a lot of the guys could have let those balls go — but Broad was bringing the ball back, so you had to play a lot more. Take nothing away from him.’