Aug
25
Figure gets Broader for England hero
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Stuart Broad can expect massive sums after his Ashes exploits but the man himself is interested in a different type of figures.
All-rounder Broad’s role in England’s 2-1 victory over Australia led to estimations of £2million in sponsorship deals alone will follow.
However, Broad, 23, is more concerned with career statistics, by virtue of runs and wickets, than the number of noughts on cheques.
Speaking at the England team hotel in London, in the aftermath of the 197-run series-sealing win at the Oval, Nottinghamshire’s Broad said: “You have got to make runs and take wickets and perform for England for other things to happen to you.
“They are certainly not a primary vision of mine; I want to play 100 Test matches for England, I want to be the highest one-day wicket-taker for England but more importantly I want to win World Cups for England and Ashes series in Australia.
“I want to make England the best team in the world and that prospect is the thing that really excites me the most and makes me want to get out of bed every day when I have bowled 30 overs the day before.”
Broad’s five for 37 on Friday afternoon set up the fifth npower Test win and boosted a series return which appeared fallow midway through.
He finished the campaign as England’s leading wicket-taker with 18, and allied to his two half-centuries, meant he was one of the team’s most prolific performers.
He is also on course to reach his career target of averaging above 30 with the bat and below it with the ball - his current returns are 30.68 and 35.78 respectively.
“I am not massively stats driven but stats don’t lie,” Broad said. “Anyone in international cricket with a bowling average of under 30 is doing fantastically well.
“You see the likes of Dale Steyn, and people like this, who are down at about 21.
“If I could have a bowling average of under 30 and a batting average over 30 I would be a very happy boy.
“But I have got a lot of hard work to do because if my batting average is to stay near 30 I have got to start scoring 100s.
“In the next couple months I am looking to develop my batting. It is a mindset because I believe I can do it.
“As soon as I get to 30 I start thinking ‘right where can I hit this ball’ rather than a batsmen who thinks ‘right I’ve got to 30 let’s go and get 70 and 80′. That is the mindset that I can change.
“At certain stages in this series I have played my shots and it has come off for me.
“But I have also had chances were I could have gone on and played a really telling score and that is my next vision.”
The events of the past 72 hours have cast Broad as a potential poster boy for a new generation of English sport, particularly given the passing of Andrew Flintoff from Test cricket.
Having slayed Australia in such a high-profile contest, his life has unquestionably changed from just a week ago.
“I’ve not been aware of what’s been happening,” he said. “It has been a tough couple of days and I have barely left my room - it has been room service, sleeping and playing cricket.
“I’ve not been aware of extra attention but that is something that is out of my control anyway.
“It is an exciting time. I have got some very good people around me. My old man has experienced winning an Ashes and been successful and my mum is a very grounded person and if I ever put a foot out of place she would tell me.”
He added: “I haven’t got the body to be posing in my underwear like David Beckham.
“I think whenever you play international sport it is quite high pressured and there is a lot going on.
“I have dealt with that well in the last couple of years and I don’t think that will change.
“I am focused on my training and having grown up in a sporting family, that is something I have always been used to.
“My dad has always said that cricket comes first. If you get your runs and wickets then everything else will take care of itself.”
Reality will hit home for Broad tomorrow as one of six of the successful Oval XI who fly to Belfast for Thursday’s one-day international against Ireland.
Aug
23
England win back the Ashes
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England regained the Ashes in dramatic fashion at the Oval, beating Australia by a whooping 197 runs.
England avenged a humiliating 5-0 Ashes loss in Australia two years back to snatch the url back from Ricky Ponting’s men in dramatic fashion.
The hosts had just about managed to hang on for a draw in the first Test at Lord’s and have since been a huge force through the series.
It was always going to be an uphill task for Australia to make a match of it in the deciding Ashes Test after they were set 546 runs to win the series.
Only Ricky Ponting with a fifty and Michael Hussey with a hundred managed to put up any resistance aggainst a rampant England bowling attack.
Steve Harmison and Graham Swann snapped up three wickets each while Paul Collingwood took one. However, the two most important breakthroughs came from last-Test man Andrew Flintoff, who sent back Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting with a direct hit and Andrew Strauss, whose throw found Michael Clarke short of the crease and that when the men from Down Under looked in absolute control.
The Oval Test will be remembered for bidding farewell to Flintoff, who will not play Test match cricket for England again and Johathan Trott, who silenced his critics with a sensational hundred on debut.
Aug
22
Broad savours ’special day’
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Stuart Broad experienced several of the most “special” moments of his career after his Ashes exploits.
But he knows they will count for little if they do not end up helping England win the Ashes.
Broad took five for 37 as he and Graeme Swann (four for 38) caused an unexpected Australia collapse from 73 for none to 160 all out in reply to 332 on day two of the final npower Test at the Oval.
England closed on 58 for three but still appeared in control of their destiny - with three days left to convert their advantageous position into the win needed to snatch back the urn.
Broad knows England are close but dares not take anything for granted in what has been a summer of hugely fluctuating fortunes.
“It was as special as you can get as a cricketer - going down to fine-leg with everyone on their feet and clapping,” he recalled, of his part in an afternoon session which ended with a teatime standing ovation after England had taken eight wickets.
“The English fans have been fantastic throughout this series. We hope we can repay them, and win the Ashes,” he added.
England’s surge came from nowhere on an untypical Oval pitch which has called for patience from batsmen and bowlers alike.
“It was fantastic”
Broad put the success down to morale and planning under Andrew Strauss‘ captaincy.
“It was fantastic,” he said. “To have come out after lunch when they’re looking like 80 for none, it would have been easy to relax into the session.
“But to get together and fight like we did and bowl them out for 160 puts us in a great position.”
Even so, he noted there was much work still to do.
“Five wickets here is not important until we do what we’ve got to do over next two or three days,” he points out.
“Tomorrow is still a massive day, the biggest in this Test match. If we can get our heads down in that first hour we can really put the Aussies under some pressure.”
England’s lead, on a pitch which has offered turn for finger spin from the outset, is already 230 - and Broad has hopes of adding another 170 or so.
Broad was part of 2005 Ashes winning team
“I’d take 400 off you now,” he said. “The way the wicket is turning - and we’ve got a world-class spinner in our ranks - is very handy for us.
“There is a lot of time left, so we don’t need to chase the game.
“If we can look to try to bat the day and someone go on and get a hundred - one thing we’ve not done as much as we’ve wanted to in this series.”
Twenty-three-year-old Broad was only a teenager when England won the Ashes here in 2005, to end a generation of failure against Australia.
He recalls pacing the floor at home when Kevin Pietersen was helping Michael Vaughan’s team close out the draw they needed here.
“We were five down just before lunch, and I remember moping to the kitchen and thinking ‘what’s happened here?’” he said.
“My feelings and emotions fluctuated so much throughout that day. It may turn out to be the same again for our supporters.”
Broad, whose father Chris once helped England win the Ashes in Australia and whose sister is part of the current back-up team, was cheered on by another familiar face in the crowd on Friday - his mum Carole.
“She normally gets her hat on and hides in the background so no one notices her,” he explained.
“But I could see her cheering on a few occasions - which was nice.”
“The game is far from over”
While Broad was following up his career-best six for 91 from England’s embarrassing fourth-Test defeat at Headingley, Simon Katich (50) was the only Australia batsman to offer any resistance.
The opener admits Australia have a huge task on their hands to avoid defeat.
“There is still a fair bit of work to do, but obviously we have got to keep fighting hard,” he said.
“Today obviously didn’t go to plan, but we have to hang in there and restrict England to as little as possible - so second time around we can make amends.
“The game is far from over.”
Katich acknowledged there may be some qualms about the unusual Oval surface - but was content to give England due credit.
“There weren’t really a lot of balls that disturbed the surface,” he reported.
“The bottom line is England got the momentum - and after the initial partnership, we just couldn’t string another one together. We know it’s going to be tough work.
“Stuart bowled well, and his spell cracked the game right open.”
Jul
20
England register historic victory
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Andrew Flintoff claimed only the third five-wicket haul of his career as England completed their first Lord’s triumph over Australia for 75 years.
The 31-year-old all-rounder claimed five for 92 as Australia, chasing an unlikely victory target of 522, were dismissed for 406 shortly before lunch on the final day to seal England’s 115-run triumph.
It’s all about numbers
The emphatic victory, England’s first Ashes win at Lord’s since 1934, puts them 1-0 ahead in the five-Test series with three matches remaining and establishes them as firm favourites to emulate the success of 2005 and regain the Ashes.
Australia had resumed the final morning in front of a sell-out Lord’s crowd on 313 for five with high hopes of claiming the 209 more runs required to reach the world record victory target.
Michael Clarke and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin had forged an unbroken 185-run partnership overnight and with Lancastrian Flintoff clearly struggling with his right knee problems the previous evening, Australia were hopeful of setting up another drama like Edgbaston four years ago.
Top Performer: Andrew Flintoff
But Flintoff, playing his final Test at Lord’s following his announcement he is retiring from Test cricket at the end of this series, quickly shifted the balance in England’s favour by claiming the breakthrough with his third ball of the day.
Haddin had failed to add to his overnight 80 when he fished at a full-length delivery outside off-stump, which flew low to Paul Collingwood at second slip.
It gave England a flying start and with Flintoff generating speeds in excess of 90mph in a hostile, aggressive spell, Australia looked unlikely to challenge their victory target.
Click here to follow all the action as it unfolded
Flintoff demonstrated his threat by hitting Clarke, who resumed overnight on 125, on the shoulder with a short ball while new batsman Mitchell Johnson edged him just short of Collingwood at second slip.
Highlights of the fifth day’s play
But despite several other close escapes, Johnson provided determined support for Clarke to leave England once again anxious about Australia’s ability to claim an historic victory of their own.
The pair added a crucial 43 runs and it took the introduction of off-spinner Graeme Swann in the 13th over of the morning to finally break their stand with his second delivery.
Clarke, who had progressed to 136 after over five hours at the crease, came down the wicket to try to hit Swann down the ground but was beaten by the drift and the ball continued on to hit his off-stump.
Fifth day’s action in pics
Boosted by the removal of Australia’s only remaining recognised batsman, Flintoff seemed to run in with extra vigour and claimed his next victim in the next over when new batsman Nathan Hauritz shouldered arms and lost his off-stump.
Peter Siddle was dismissed in similar fashion, this time with a delivery which nipped back through his defences to hit middle stump, and Flintoff raised his arms to acknowledge his first five-wicket Test haul for England since his epic spell at The Oval four years ago.
Four overs later - and just 20 minutes before the scheduled lunch interval - Swann ended Australia’s resistance by bowling Johnson for a determined 63 when he attempted another big drive and missed, allowing the ball to shatter his stumps and seal England’s triumph.
Jun
24
Shane Watson won’t be replaced
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Australia all-rounder Shane Watson will not be sent home after being diagnosed with a minor thigh injury.
Scans on Tuesday on Watson’s left knee confirmed a “low-grade strain”, which has forced the 28-year-old to miss the opening four-day tour game against Sussex at Hove.It is not yet known when Watson will fully recovered from the injury, but with just two weeks to go before the opening Ashes Test in Cardiff on July 8 his availability for that game remains in some doubt.
“Watson has suffered a low-grade strain”
Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris did not put a time frame on Watson’s recovery, but gave hope he could return to fitness in time for the match at Sophia Gardens.
“He has suffered a low-grade strain of one of his quadriceps muscles,” Kountouris revealed. “We expect this injury should resolve fairly quickly.
“His return to play will be guided by progress made in the next few days.”
Watson had missed Australia’s training sessions on Monday and Tuesday after complaining of general stiffness.
That prompted the Australian team officials to contemplate calling up a replacement for the injury-prone Queenslander, however, the results of Wednesday’s scans would rule out such action in the short term at least.
While Watson will now stay on in England, his hopes of pressing for a place in the first Test team have been set back by his latest injury.
Captain Ricky Ponting admitted as much on Tuesday after the team for the match at Hove was named, saying: “For him it’s obviously a setback. He’s disappointed that he wasn’t available for selection in this game.
“I don’t know if it harms his chances even more for the first Test match but there’s an opportunity that’s slipped out of his grasp over the next four days.”
He added: “Hopefully within a couple of days he’s right to start back up and work up on his bowling again.”
Jun
9
No achilles heal for Pietersen
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Kevin Pietersen is preparing to play on with an Achilles injury which could flare up again and force him to miss matches in Ashes.
The former England captain returned from a recurrence of his injury problems to inspire Sunday’s brilliant 48-run victory over Pakistan at The Oval, which secured the hosts’ progress into the Super Eights stage of the World Twenty20 tournament.
But his on-going injury troubles, which have already forced him to miss the one-day series against West Indies and England’s opening defeat of this tournament to Holland, remain a concern with the opening Ashes Test due to start in Cardiff in just over a month.
Pietersen remains confident
He had two days of treatment and an injection to ensure his participation against Pakistan, and England’s medical staff now believe it may be connected to a back problem which could recur at any time.
But Pietersen remains confident of managing the situation, insisting: “I don’t have any concerns. We have diagnosed what the problem is over the last couple of days, so hopefully now we’ve diagnosed what we think it is, I can get better now.
“Normally it flares up once or twice after a cortisone injection, and it’s flared up once. And if it flares again it will be uncommon but it does happen, and in that case we’ll just take more steps - there are more steps that we can take.”
Pietersen has been advised that only a break of around two to three months - impossible with England’s hectic schedule for the next couple of years - will completely cure it, but is resistant to that suggestion with so many major events coming up in the near future.
England face a one-day series against Australia immediately after the Ashes followed by the Champions Trophy tournament and a Test and one-day series in South Africa, leaving Pietersen and England with little room for manoeuvre.
“What cures is it is two or three months out of the game and that ain’t happening - I’m not missing that,” he insisted. “I didn’t want to miss Friday and I certainly wasn’t going to miss the game against Pakistan.
“I love playing for England”
“I was going to play in that even if I was only 50% fit because I want to play for England. I love playing for England and I didn’t want us to get knocked out of the tournament.
“It’s always impossible to get a three or four-month break anyway - the only way to do that would be to tear a tendon or a hamstring or something like that.”
He added: “It’s a case of managing it on a daily basis now. I’ve played with injuries, I’ve played with broken ribs and the lot and it’s a case of managing what you’ve got and trying to make sure it doesn’t flare up.
“I’m frustrated as anybody because I hate missing any games of cricket. I love playing cricket for England, there’s nothing better than playing for England and being in such a huge tournament here in the UK - it’s huge.”
May
31
Langer sounds Ashes warning
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Justin Langer warned England not to get carried away by their recent victories over the West Indies as they head into the Ashes.
But the former Australian opener did back England to make it a close series and he has been impressed by the leadership of Andrew Strauss since his ex-Middlesex colleague took over the reins at a difficult time.
England beat the West Indies 2-0 in the Test series and also claimed the one-day series against a touring side who barely put up a fight.
“Strauss’ leadership has been excellent”
The West Indies had been late replacements for Sri Lanka and captain Chris Gayle set the tone by making it clear he would have rather been playing in the Indian Premier League.
Langer told Sportsweek on Radio Five Live: “I wouldn’t be jumping up and down too much about their (England’s) performance against the West Indies.
“West Indies were a poor side. They looked a disorganised side but England will go with some confidence into the series. You still have to win.
“Andrew Strauss has been fantastic and his leadership has been excellent, not only tactically on the field but he is playing really well himself.”
Langer warned England that Australia will be a far sterner challenge even though they are going through a rebuilding period having lost the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist.
“They are big names but I think one of the strengths of Australian cricket has been its great depth,” he said.
“You only have to look at a guy like Phillip Hughes who has come onto the scene and made a massive impact. He made a hundred in both innings of his second Test match against arguably the best fast bowling attack in the world (in South Africa).
“There are plenty of good players around and you can expect a well prepared side. They will be very competitive.
“Australian cricket has proven for well over a decade how strong they are. They in a a transition period but they (England) are in for a tough assignment.
“I think it will be close. Australia come over with a lot less experience than they have before.
“It is always hard playing over here and it is particularly hard to bat over here in Test cricket. Australia’s batsmen have to be up for the challenge and if they are I think they will win the series.”
May
31
Clarke: We’re not a team in transition
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Michael Clarke has warned England fans they could be in for a surprise if they think the Australia squad is a weak one.
Clarke said England fans could be in for a surprise if they think the Australia squad seeking to retain the Ashes later this summer is weaker than the one that won them.
“We may surprise a few English fans”
Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist have all retired since Australia beat England 5-0 to regain the Ashes in Australia but Clarke is quietly confident about the quality of the current touring party.
Clarke, speaking ahead of the ICC World Twenty20, said: “The English public will make their own decision (about the strength of the Australia squad).
“For us, if we play the type of cricket we know we can, I think we might surprise a few English fans.”
Clarke does not accept Australia, with a recent Test victory in South Africa under their belts, can be described as a team in transition.
“It’s been a long time now to be honest, the likes of Warne and McGrath haven’t been playing now for nearly two years now.
“I think we as a team are well and truly beyond that, those guys will always be remembered as greats of the game and we’ll never be able to replace those guys.
“But it gives new guys an opportunity to come in and play the way they play. The guys that had their opportunity in South Africa made the most of their chance. Hopefully they will be as successful in England.”
“We’re not thinking too much about Ashes”
Although the five-Test Ashes series is looming, Clarke insists it is very much on the back burner for the time being as Australia seek success in the shorter format of the game.
“We’re not thinking too much about the Ashes,” he stressed. “It’s important that we stay focused on the ICC World Twenty20.
“I’ll prepare for the Ashes in three weeks’ time hopefully when we win the final of this tournament. That is our number one focus at the moment. We want to make sure we are playing good Twenty20 cricket and do as well in a format that we haven’t been as successful at as we would have liked.
“We are very confident as we played really good cricket in South Africa in the Test format. And we’ve just come off a win in Dubai and Abu Dhabi against Pakistan in the one-day format so our guys have played enough cricket, no matter what format of the game.
“It’s just about making sure we are confident going into our first Twenty20 game so our preparation over the next seven days is very important.
“We’re very keen to win this. We have a lot more experience over the last 12 months with guys playing IPL and Twenty20 coming more into the game.
“We have a very good squad that can adapt to all conditions so we will see how we go but we are really looking forward to performing in this tournament.”
“Ricky has always been a great leader”
Clarke, who is now the regular stand-in captain whenever Ricky Ponting is rested, is in no rush to tackle that job full-time.
“I’m definitely not ready right now,” he insisted. “The captain we have got is amazing. Ricky has always been a great leader. Not only is he an amazing cricketer but the way he has led this team for such a long time is unbelievable.
“There are not too many players around the world who are not only as good a player as him but as good a leader.
“For me I hope he captains until the end of my career, I think he has got a long time yet in his career in all forms of the game.
“For me as vice-captain it gives me an opportunity to get as close as I can to him and learn as much as I can from him.”
May
12
Broad happy with new responsibility
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Stuart Broad is determined to make the most of being handed an Ashes partnership with James Anderson.
England’s bowling was fronted by the so-called fab four of Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones four years ago when they successfully secured the little urn.
But with that quartet currently either injured or out of favour, 22-year-old Broad is forging a partnership with Lancashire paceman Anderson, 26, with just one Test between now and the summer’s big event.
They have been the chosen opening pair for the past two Test matches against West Indies and are set to continue that relationship at Chester-le-Street this week.
“It is something I worked hard for in one-day cricket, I was given the new ball against South Africa last year and really want to make it my own,” said Broad, speaking at the launch of a new npower urban cricket facility in Nottingham.
“It is certainly something I want to do in Test cricket - I have always bowled with the new ball for Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire and it is something I have really cherished.
“It puts pressure on you to take wickets but that is something I enjoy.”
Captain Andrew Strauss began his tenure earlier this year by throwing the new ball to all-rounder Flintoff but another frustrating injury has allowed the Anderson-Broad axis to develop.
And Broad reckons they have begun to forge the kind of understanding required to be successful at the top level.
“Personally I like fielding at mid-off because you can chat to the other bowler,” said Broad.
“Jimmy and I have played a lot of cricket together now and we talk about deliveries all the time.
“When Chris Gayle was driving me in the first innings at Lord’s, Jimmy told me to try a couple of overs of just attempting to hit him in the belly button.
“That was designed to tie him up a bit and luckily one of them swung back a bit and got him out.
“Communication is key in Test cricket because it is whoever adapts the quickest seems to prosper.”
Despite his tender years and the fact he was playing in only his 16th Test, Broad is suddenly one of the senior men in a new-look team and that showed in his reaction to debutants Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan at Lord’s.
“I felt a responsibility to get Graham into his first spell and Tim as well,” he said.
“The communication within the bowling attack was fantastic in the last Test: the lengths to bowl, the areas to bowl, and we decided that we could afford to be driven and were willing to sacrifice going at four runs per over to get a couple of wickets.”
That sacrifice resulted in the tourists being bundled out for just 152 and following-on, with Onions bagging a maiden five-wicket haul.
Broad’s pace was impressive in the three-day victory - even if the speedgun which clocked him at 93-miles-per-hour might be termed over-enthusiastic - and he clearly benefited from giving the Indian Premier League a miss to rest up for 10 days at the start of the season.
“I am certainly stronger, so that is going to help, perhaps not with my first spell but perhaps coming back after 80 overs with the second new ball when you need to hit 85 miles per hour again,” said Broad, in relation to his speed.
“I feel I can recover more quickly after games because I feel a lot fitter.
“It was pleasing to get Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan - two huge wickets and two people who caused us trouble out in the West Indies - but I was actually more pleased with my second-innings performance: how my rhythm felt and the areas I hit.
“It is nice to bowl at a pace where you have still got a little bit more in you, so you can surprise the batsman.
“The hardest bowlers to face when I am batting are people whose bouncer is quicker than their length-ball because it really shocks you.
“They can also hurry you with their fuller ball or slide it on to you.
“Bowlers that vary their speed by five or six miles an hour have been very effective over recent years.
“That is something I am trying to implement into my game.”
Mar
14
Lee looking forward to the Ashes
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Australian speedster Brett Lee made it clear that he is fit and willing to be back playing for his national side in the all important Ashes starting this May. Brett lee has now been out of the game for quite sometime because of an ankle injury. 
Lee now knows that it will be difficult to make it back to the side and spearhead the attack again with the likes of Siddle and Hilfenhaus doing very well in his absence is South Africa but believes that the selectors will have faith in him.
Asked if he was worried about not being selected, Lee said, “Not from my point of view. As soon as I’m fit I’m looking forward to leading the Australian attack again … hopefully my record will speak for itself.”
“With 300 wickets under my belt, I’m looking forward to getting back in there and leading the attack. It’s something I love doing and something I’ve done the last few years and enjoyed it.
Mitchell Johnson in his absence has also gone from strength to strength and is now a force to reckon with. Lee said he would love to share the new ball with the sensational left armer in England.
“It will be great working with the guys again. Mitchell Johnson has been outstanding, Peter Siddle, Hilfenhaus, these guys are now starting to make a name for themselves, and it will be great to be in that mix again.
After the first net session ever since he was ruled out because of the injury, Lee declared: “I’m the fittest and strongest I’ve ever felt.”
“I got back from India and was close to 82kg, now I’m up to 93kg.
“I’ve had a great 10-week program working with my personal trainer Paul Haslam and we’ve been doing different types and styles of training to what I’ve been used to.
“Two days after the (ankle) operation, I was in the gym doing upper-body work, and when I got off the crutches and out of the moon boot, I started the lower-body work.
“I’m running, rowing, on the bike, swimming and had my first net session on Wednesday at the SCG.”
Lee, who is well on the way to become the first Australian ever to pick up 400 wickets in Tests and ODIs is also eagerly looking forward to the IPL and is all set to make his comeback to cricket in the game against the Daredevils on April 12. He also believes that a good workout in the IPL would be the ideal preparation for the Ashes.
“I’ve only bowled in one net session, but I’ve got four weeks to get my speed up.
“With all these blokes (Haslam and NSW physio Pat Farhart) behind me, I’m excited about what lies ahead because I’ve never felt the way I have … I’ll be at the Ashes and ready to go from ball one.”