Broad still has ‘huge desire’ to do well in Tests

Cricket365
March 19, 2018

England seamer Stuart Broad says he still has a “huge desire” to do well in Test cricket but admits that there has been uncertainty over his performances in recent times.

The 31-year-old Broad, who is one wicket short of 400 in the longest format, was speaking ahead of the first Test against New Zealand, starting in Auckland on Thursday.

Broad has taken the time to go “back to basics” at home while England were playing limited-overs cricket, saying he has re-grooved his action.

The right-arm bowler told Sky Sports: “I think my action had fallen into a place where it needed repairing, after bowling so much to left-handers around the wicket – in training and in matches.

“I’m in a place now where I feel like I can do quite a bit of damage as a bowler again.

“I’ve got a huge desire to make an impact in this team because it’s been a little bit of time and there’s been a bit of uncertainty as to where that lies with me.

“I need to start performing, 2019 Ashes is a big one for me, but I’ve just got that feeling inside me, there’s something in my stomach that tells me my career is about to take off a bit.”

There has been talk that Broad will not take the new ball in the two-match Test series in New Zealand with Mark Wood and Chris Woakes sharing duties with James Anderson in the England’s two warm-up games.

Broad, however, says it will not dent his confidence if he does not open the bowling.

The Nottinghamshire player said: “I’m really not sure which way we’ll go [in the first Test] … we’re going to be slightly less rigid in the way we go about things, just to try to create pressure for longer periods of time.

“There has been no decision made on it. There’s still a chance I could take the new ball …”