Stuart Broad says he is “addicted” to England’s brand of cricket after his five-wicket haul on an explosive first day of the Test summer at Lord’s.
Broad took three early wickets to reduce Ireland to 19-for-three inside the first half-hour and then added two more after lunch to register his 20th Test five-for as the visitors were bowled out for 172. In reply, England scored at more than a run-a-ball after tea to reach the close on 152/1, just 20 runs behind, with Ben Duckett unbeaten on 60.
The day provided the perfect start to what is a monumental summer for Ben Stokes’s side, with their quest to regain the Ashes starting at Edgbaston in a fortnight’s time.
There have been suggestions that taking back the Urn could provide the perfect way for Broad, who turns 37 this month, to end his England career but the seamer says he has learned to live in the present.
“When I got left out of the Caribbean last year, I made a promise to myself to not look too far ahead and just give everything to the game I'm playing in the moment,” he told BBC Test Match Special.
“I want to enjoy whatever result comes my way and that has really helped me because it keeps me fresh.
“I have bowled really well in the past year under Ben and I have done exactly what I want to do by taking important wickets.
“I am actually pretty addicted to playing in this environment and to this brand of cricket. It is just so fun, and our main objective is just to entertain everyone who is in the seats, on the radio or on the TV and that is so fun as a player because you are not thinking about the results, you are purely thinking about entertainment.”
