Broad widens his experience

15 July 2007

Youngster Stuart Broad is close to realising a lifelong dream

Stuart Broad was always convinced his lifelong dream to follow his father Chris into Test match cricket would come true - and he may be about to be proved right.

The 21-year-old celebrated his first call-up into an England Test squad today with a career-best five for 76 against India.

With a half-century under his belt too in the first innings of England Lions' draw against the tourists, it amounted to a hugely rewarding three days for him in Chelmsford.

Yet the best is surely yet to come, with a Test debut fairly likely at Lord's this week.

Stephen Harmison is expected to be out because of a hernia and Broad offers necessary variety to England's pace attack.

"Getting the call for the Test match is a dream come true - and then to go out and get five-for against a strong India batting line-up, obviously I'm over the moon," said Broad.

"I was brought up with cricket, and it was all I ever wanted to do."

As the Lions bowled India out for 383 before making 227 for two themselves in a near inevitable stalemate, Broad made no secret of his long-held hopes - and belief - that he would one day get a chance to reach the "pinnacle" of his ambition.

"It's always been a dream of mine - and one of those dreams that I've always had that deep desire and 'feel' that I'll achieve it," he said.

"One-day internationals are fantastic. But the height of anyone's career is to play Test cricket."

The opportunity appears set to come quickly for a cricketer who, up until a sudden growth spurt in his teens on the way to his current 6ft 6in, had considered himself more likely to emulate his father as a batsman.

Steve Harmison is likely to miss out on the Test match due to a hernia injury © Getty Images

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Broad, who is not taking his selection for granted this week, added: "When you say you want to play for England you want to do it in any form of cricket - but Test cricket is the real pinnacle.

"If the opportunity arrives I'll look to grab it with both hands.

"If Steve misses out it is up to me to train well and see where we go."

Broad acknowledges he is a slightly different type of bowler, in Harmison's absence, to the others in England's existing attack.

"I do look to swing it as well as a main option," he said.

"But it helps being 6ft 6in, so that if it's not swinging I can try to hit quite aggressive lengths.

"That's what I've talked about with (England bowling coaches) Allan Donald and Kevin Shine - hitting those lengths all the time. Then if the pitch is bouncy I can come into my own.

"Jimmy (Anderson) swings it all the time - and Siddy [Ryan Sidebottom] and Hoggy [Matthew Hoggard] are similar sorts of bowlers - so I suppose I do offer something slightly different."

As for Harmison, Broad does not subscribe to the theory he is a like-for-like replacement.

"He's a bit quicker than me and gets a bit more bounce," the Leicestershire bowler explained.

"My philosophy is to hit the same area every time - following the likes of (Glenn) McGrath and (Shaun) Pollock. Their record proves to me 'areas' is the way forward.

Broad tries to hit the same area every time he bowls

"If I can hit the same spot every time with a bit of bounce, I'm in the game."

Broad is determined not to neglect the batting talent which made him an opener throughout his school career and for his county's age-group teams.

"I've worked hard this winter on my batting, and it's coming along nicely. I'm feeling a lot more confident in my technique," he reported.

"It's something I've got to keep working on to really bat higher in the order.

"I still want to work really hard on my batting, because it's so important in international cricket these days - but the bowling is the one that's really kicked on."

Broad's success against the tourists has given him reason to believe he can pose a significant threat if his chance comes - notwithstanding Sachin Tendulkar's masterful 171.

"It's obviously a good confidence boost. I know I can get them out on flat wickets," he said.

India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh reflected on a successful preparation match despite a lack of excitement as it was brought to a close.

"If we'd got a few more overs to bat in the second innings it would have been better," he said, after India had closed on 91 for one.

"But most of our batters got what they needed out of it - and whatever areas we needed to work on, bowlers or batsmen, I'm sure we have."