Cook: Broad fully capable of leading attack

England captain Alastair Cook has no doubt that paceman Stuart Broad will be able to lead the bowling attack in the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, in the absence of veteran James Anderson.
England's leading Test wicket-taker was ruled out of the match with a side strain, meaning Broad, who plays for Nottinghamshire and needs one more wicket to reach the 300 club in Tests, will be the senior man.
Cook said: "I don't think there's been too many cases in history where a guy has 299 wickets and played 80-odd Tests and he's waiting to lead the attack.
"It's a great moment for him in terms of his home ground and stuff.
"Clearly Jimmy is going to be missed, we can't sit here and deny that.
"You don't play forever and think 'who is irreplaceable'. There's always someone who can come in."
As for the bowler himself, he is confident of taking over from Anderson as the attack leader, saying he and 'Jimmy' share the duties anyway, and he'll just need to be more conscious of chatting to the bowlers.
Broad said: "The importance of that (leading the attack) is not to apply too much pressure to myself. That doesn't change my role particularly.
"It will be important the bowling unit talk proactively in this game and that is what I will try and lead.
"That is what Jimmy and I do naturally so I will have to be a bit more conscious of that this week."
Latest
-
News
Dan Lawrence shows early touch as Essex start strongly in Championship
There were big hundreds for Sam Robson, Tom Haines and James Vince.
-
News
Sachin Tendulkar thanks medical staff after returning home from hospital
Tendulkar was admitted to hospital last week after revealing he had tested positive for Covid-19 and had been in quarantine at home.
-
News
New Zealand name squad for their Test tour of England
New Zealand have named a 20-player squad for their tour of England, with three uncapped prospects in the group.
-
News
Jamie Porter hoping for England call after picking James Anderson’s brain
Porter was close to his England debut against India three years ago but has fallen down the pecking order.
-
News
ICC Rankings: Fakhar Zaman on the charge in ODIs
Fakhar Zaman has scored back-to-back ODI centuries in South Africa and is in red-hot form.
-
News
ICC pressing ahead with plans for T20 World Cup in India despite Covid-19 spike
Acting chief executive Geoff Allardice says the ICC is “not anywhere near” activating any contingency plans.
-
News
Matt Parkinson takes positives from England tour despite lack of game time
Parkinson did not see competitive action in Sri Lanka or India.
-
News
Ponting sheds light on Smith’s Delhi Capitals role
Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting has given some insight into where Steve Smith would fit into his side.
-
News
Akhtar ‘wouldn’t call De Kock a cheat’ but run-out not in the ‘spirit of cricket’
Shoaib Akhtar has had his say on Quinton de Kock’s controversial actions during the run-out of Fakhar Zaman.
-
News
Sarah Taylor set for playing comeback in The Hundred with Welsh Fire
Taylor put her cricketing career on hold in September 2019 when announcing her international retirement.