Broad seeks fatherly advice

Stuart Broad © Getty Images

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Stuart Broad will continue to consult the wisdom of his father as he prepares for the prospect of making his England Test debut at Lord’s this week.

The 21-year-old, named in a 13-man squad to take on India in the first Test on Thursday, celebrated his call-up with a career-best 5-76 against the tourists.

The Leicestershire pace bowler’s best efforts were not enough to accelerate events in Chelmsford sufficiently to achieve anything other than an honourable draw for England Lions.

But on a day which also saw Andrew Strauss (80) back among the runs, in a second-innings 227 for two, Broad can only have added more substance to the already impressive self-belief he appears to share with father Chris - who played 25 Tests for England as an opening batsman.

“I speak to him most days - not really about anything technical, but just enjoying the game,” Broad junior reported.

“He’s a great man to speak to about anything like that because he’s been there and done it, had the ups and downs.

Broad's height gives him an advantage © Getty Images

“He’s just told me to enjoy it if I get the chance.”

Broad looks likely to take his place in a three-man pace attack - and is far from daunted by the prospect.

"I feel comfortable in that environment,” he said.

“I’m not too nervous about turning up, because I know all the lads; I’ve been on A tours with the likes of Matt Prior, at the academy with Cooky [Alastair Cook].

At 6ft 5in, Broad offers obvious variation should there be a lack of swing available to the likes of Matthew Hoggard, Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson.

His rise has been rapid; yet somehow there has appeared to be an inevitability he would graduate to Test level.

Charting his progress since 2004, Broad recalls: “I left school in the July, played a couple of second-team matches at the end of that season and got offered a contract.”

It was only shortly before then that he had begun to show major potential as a bowler as well as a batsman.

“That summer I had a growth spurt - and suddenly just bowling in the nets, I realised at 6ft 5in it was bouncing a bit more and was more awkward,” he added.

“I went to Australia for six months and just bowled out there - opening the batting and bowling with a club.

“I got my body used to bowling and came back the following year to Leicestershire, hit my straps pretty quickly and was into first-class cricket after the third game - and I’ve not looked back since.”