Broad blown away by the consistency and quality of England’s batting line-up

Stuar t Broad lo oks on with envy at the power of England’s World Cup - chasing batting order and he cannot think of another – past or present – who would improve it.

Broad knows a thing or two about one-day internationals, playing 121 of them from 20062016 and claiming 178 wickets, and he is blown away by the consistency and quality of the current line-up.

A few pedigree players of yester year might beg to differ - Kevin Pietersen, Marcus Trescothick, Robin Smith, Graham Thorpe or Nick Knight might well have a case – but Broad’s mind is made up.

“I look at the team we have, particularly the top seven batsman, and I don’t think I can name you a player, in the history of English cricket, who would get in that top seven at this moment,” he said.

“That proves the quality we’ve got and that’s exciting as a fan. I’ve never seen a team go in with the quality this one has got, particularly in the batting. It’s really hard to compare ODI generations because the game changes so much with rules and regulations but that top seven is as powerful as I’ve ever seen, as exciting as I’ve ever seen.”

England have yet to win the tournament despite appearing in three finals. Broad added :“That prove show hard it is when you bring the best teams in the world together but generally the best team will win it. When Australia won the last World Cup in Australia, they were ranked number No 1 in the world. (In 2011) India won it in India when they wereno 1.

“As England are playing in England as the No 1 side, it does stand us in good stead.”