Broad: Bowlers must accept being rested during India series

England v India 2018 tour

With England set to face India in five Tests which come thick and fast over the next six weeks fast bowler Stuart Broad says the quick men need to accept that they can’t play every match.

Veterans Broad and James Anderson are set to lead a fairly young England bowling attack with Sam Curran and Jamie Porter being the other quicks selected in the 13 man group for the first Test.

Ahead of Wednesday’s first Test Broad said: “I think there has already been small conversations saying about, ‘Don’t be disheartened if you are left out for a Test match, it’s not a personal attack or dropping, it’s a management of your bowlers to make sure we give ourselves the best chance’.

“It’s only natural to expect small changes throughout five Test matches, but the bowlers have to be able to take it.”

Broad isn’t certain if it will only be himself and James Anderson who will be rested but with Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes both suffering injuries already this summer England need to be prepared.

The quick said that making short work of the India batting could negate the need to rest bowlers.

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He said: “If (there are) two Tests of 250 overs in the field each, it’s unrealistic to think your seam bowlers will play five Tests in six weeks.

“But if you have a Test where you bowl them out in 80, 60 overs, that changes your thinking.”

Broad feels as good as ever heading into the series having come through Notts loss to Surrey not so long ago.

He went on: “I had no pain after the game.

“I am going in (to this series) 100 per cent fit and you can’t day that too often, so it’s an exciting place to be.”

Broad says that the weather may have eroded England’s home advantage with the heatwave sapping pitches across the island of moisture.

He said: “We have the advantage of home conditions – or how ‘home’ they will be is debatable.

“At Trent Bridge (last week), we tried to leave a bit of moisture in the pitch and it dried out within two-and-a-half hours.

“But we still (have) our home crowd, home grounds, so we do have that advantage.”

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