India test finds Broad appeal

Stuart Broad © Getty Images

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Stuart Broad is unfazed by the prospect of bowling to India’s stellar batting line-up when he returns to international cricket next week.

Leicestershire paceman Broad is in confident mood after inspiring his county to victory with an awesome personal performance against Derbyshire last week, which comprised match figures of 8-116 in addition to 131 unbeaten runs with the bat.

Exactly the kind of stuff to get the 21-year-old upbeat about bowling to Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, three of the game’s most dangerous one-day batsmen.

“I will just look to get them out,” declared Broad. “They’re world-class players but they can still nick the ball.

“I will try to bowl aggressively - we talk about bowling aggressively as a group - and that will hopefully get rewards.”

But for a cortisone injection in Chris Tremlett’s shoulder, which eased soreness sufficiently, Broad would have made his Test debut against India last week.

He could not have reacted in any better way than he did at Grace Road, however, culminating in the second innings when he hit a career-best unbeaten 91 and then instigated a collapse on the final morning with five of the final seven wickets to fall in a nailbiting chase.

Broad took five wickets for England Lions against India

“It was good for me to come back from the Test match squad disappointment so well,” said Broad, speaking at an off-road event in Northamptonshire, organised by Volkswagen Touareg.

“I was warned to prepare to play because there were some niggles around and was kept on just to see if everyone got through the warm-up sessions.”

Although initially hopeful of following in his father Chris’ footsteps as an international batsman, Broad has developed into a bowler with huge potential.

Some of that has revealed itself in his nine one-day internationals to date, Broad having bowled with hostility in the NatWest Series opener against West Indies at Lord’s earlier this summer when he claimed 3-20.

Naturally personable off the field, he has not needed any of bowling consultant Allan Donald’s general guidance to ensure feistiness on it.

“It might be hereditary,” joked Broad. “It’s something that comes very naturally to me whenever I step over that white line.

“I tend not to say too much or do too much with my body language other than let the batsman know I’m there.”

Broad will certainly need that combative spirit if he is to force his way into England’s winter plans at a time when Andrew Flintoff, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison, as well as Sajid Mahmood, are treading the road to recovery.