Broad hits 600: I’m hooked on Test cricket
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tuart Broad says he has an “addiction to Test cricket” after becoming a member of the unique 600 membership and paid tribute to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for offering him with a “new lease of life” during the last yr.
Broad took two wickets on the opening day of the Fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, the second of these seeing the Nottinghamshire fast turn into solely the fifth man to go the landmark of 600 in a Test profession.
The 37-year-old is each the second Englishman and second seamer into that group, behind James Anderson, with spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble the opposite gamers to have managed the feat.
Little greater than a yr in the past, Broad’s Test future was doubtful after he and James Anderson have been ignored of the spring’s tour to the West Indies, however each have been instantly recalled following Stokes and McCullum’s appointment as captain and coach and no seamer in world cricket has been extra prolific since.
“I’ve definitely got an addiction to Test match cricket, to the competitive side of it,” Broad stated. “Baz and Stokesy have given me a new lease of life. It’s such a free environment, it feels, in the nicest possible way, that you’re playing club cricket but you’re doing it at the highest level.
“I owe a lot in the last 14 months to the way Baz and Stokesy brought energy to the group and I’ve been able to match that energy. It’s probably been the most enjoyable year of my Test career, and that’s an incredible thing to be able to say at the age of 37.
“I’ve loved every moment of this series, it’s the series that keeps on giving really.”
Broad’s milestone was the spotlight of a powerful day for England, with Chris Woakes taking 4 wickets to cut back Australia to 299 for eight on the shut after Stokes had gained the toss and made the punchy determination to ship the vacationers in to bat.
“The nightmare today would have been Australia 350-3 at the close so we are delighted to take eight wickets. A lot of balls were middled but there were big wicket balls in there as well.
“It’s not nipped or swung everywhere,” Broad added. “We weren’t successful the toss and hoping for 160 all out, put it that means.
“We will see what tomorrow brings when each groups have batted on this pitch. You often consider Test matches which have longevity right here. Days two and three generally is a improbable time for batting at Old Trafford.”