BROAD WELCOME FOR AUSSIES
England ace not fazed by early arrivals
STUART BROAD is not losing any sleep over Steve Smith and other Aussie rivals aiming to deliver major pre-ashes statements in county cricket.
Smith is expected to make his Sussex summer debut at Worcestershire this week, with the 33-year-old keen to use his short-term deal on the south coast to get himself in top form for the upcoming clashes with England.
But, while some have criticised the ECB for allowing counties to offer Smith and his fellow countrymen chances to acclimatise to English conditions, Broad believes their arrival here is a plus.
England’s lethal strike bowler claims it will have no bearing on whether he and his team-mates can wrestle the little urn back from Aussie hands and, in fact, will be a good learning curve for the potential Ashes stars of the future.
Broad said: “I don’t mind it at all, to be honest. It’s no big deal.
“Steve Smith has played in England for a lot of his career. He is a fine player around the country and it gives fans at the grounds the chance to see him up close.
“And if young English players can pick the brains of some of the best players in the world whilst they are at their counties, surely that can only be a good thing.
“It will help them learn and grow as players.the more our young batsmen and bowlers can play against the best players in the world the better they will become.”
Broad admits he is eager to get stuck into Smith and the rest of the Aussie batters and add to his 576 victims from 161 Tests.
He predicts this summer’s battles for Ashes supremacy will be the most exciting, entertaining and explosive ever – and that the series could go down to the wire.
England, who have not lost a home series to the Aussies since 2001, are promising more of the same swashbuckling “Bazball” cricket, with Brendon Mccullum (right) in charge, which has become their hallmark and helped them win
10 out of the last 12
Tests.
Broad said: “It is the most anticipated since 2005. I don’t believe the Aussies will try and match what we are doing because, for so long, they have been successful in the way they go about things. It will be spectacular to play in, and I hope, in order to continue growing the game, it will be a really tight series.
“It would be great if it goes to The Oval level 2-2 in the series and with the Ashes on the line.”