Stuart Broad reveals pre-Ashes planning for rabbit Warner

Stuart Broad says he enjoyed a “dream summer” against David Warner after dismissing him seven times in the Ashes, but that they have a relationship rooted in mutual respect.

The England seamer removed Warner for three straight ducks and by the end of the series he appeared to have the Aussie opener out before he had even made it to the crease – he had got inside his head.

Broad, 33, revealed that the homework that went in to bowling at Warner made his triumphs against the left-hander even more gratifying.

“I had done a lot of planning pre-Ashes so to be able to have that sort of success against your opposition means you got something right,” Broad told Sky News. “It was a bit of a dream summer on that front.

“[Warner] is a world-class player and I have played against him for such a long time, so to find something that worked against him this summer gave me quite a bit of professional satisfaction.

“I felt he scored too much through the off side against me so I just wanted to hit his stumps a lot more. When I got him lbw and bowled those were the ones that pleased me the most because those were the ones I was visualising most pre-game.

“If you get the ball to nip back up the slope at Lord’s it is a bit of luck, a bit of fate but the ball has got to be in the right area to hit the stumps.

“The next day he came up to me and gave me a nudge in the ribs like ‘that was a good one!’

“We have a lot of respect for each other which is nice in professional sport. He will come back strong – he scored a hundred in his first innings back in Australia and I expect him to continue to do that.”


READ MORE: Which of Stuart Broad’s seven David Warner dismissals was the most enjoyable?


Broad claimed 23 wickets at 26.65 during the Ashes and is now seventh on the all-time list for Test wickets with 467 to his name.

Broad has refused to rule out competing in The Ashes in 2021-22, and has been inspired by the longevity of bowling partner James Anderson.

“I’m someone who never really looks too far ahead,” said Broad, who will return to action in England’s two-Test series in New Zealand next month.

“I think if you look towards the end of your career you slow down as a sportsman. You stop trying to improve, stop driving yourself forward.

“I look a month at a time at the moment – I feel fit, I feel fresh, my fitness testing is as strong as it has ever been, which is a good sign. That old saying is that age is just a number and I feel really good.

“Jimmy is an inspiration for me – he is 37, he is in physically great condition and he has bowled the best he has bowled over the last three years of his whole career.

“Why can’t I do that? Why can’t I play to that sort of age and keep improving? That’s got to be my driver, the thing that pushes me on.”

Broad starred without Anderson during this summer’s Ashes, with the latter bowling only four overs in the opening Test at Edgbaston before suffering a calf injury that ruled him out of the rest of the series and has forced him to miss the upcoming New Zealand tour.

Broad was the senior bowler for England in this Ashes series as Anderson was ruled out after suffering a calf injury just four overs into the opening Test at Edgbaston.

“It certainly wasn’t good for me that one of my best mates gets injured after four overs in a series that he has dreamt about playing in for the last couple of years,” Broad added.

“I certainly felt an added responsibility and that creates opportunities – every time someone gets injured in sport there is an opportunity for someone else.

“I had to step up a little bit with our best bowler not being there and I do thrive off a bit of extra responsibility.

“Ashes cricket also brings the best out of me because of the crowds, the pressure, the expectation, it’s brilliant to play in.”

 

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