Stuart Broad has described the England setup as “completely unrecognisable” under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum and the bowler believes a trick has been missed by not making a fly-on-the wall documentary about the team’s startling resurgence.
The 36-year-old is among those to have been reinvigorated over the past 12 months, something that played out in the middle on the third evening of the first Test at Bay Oval when his four-wicket surge cut through New Zealand’s top order.
Broad even allowed himself to picture transferring this upturn in form to the summer’s Ashes campaign – a rare break from the team’s mantra of staying in the present – and hailed the deepest squad England have had since the No 1-ranked 2011 side.
“It’s completely unrecognisable,” said Broad. “It’s a bit of a shame there’s not a fly-on-the-wall documentary on it, because it’s amazing to be part of. I’m so lucky to see it first-hand. Honestly, since June, I can’t remember a negative word in the dressing room. It’s phenomenal to watch how Baz and Stokesy go about their business.
“As players [the Ashes] is hard to ignore. We’ve got a group of bowlers and for the first time since [Andrew] Strauss retired in 2012, we’ve got batters who should be in the team who aren’t – Jonny Bairstow is out injured.
“Of course I want to play five, four, three [Ashes Tests],. I know within myself I’ve got a good record in Ashes cricket and even if I have a positive effect on one Test match and we win the Ashes as an England team, that’s a great drive for me.
“Baz’s communication lines are really good and my mindset’s really clear. I can’t control whether I play or not, but I can control whether I’m fit, fresh, in rhythm and hungry. And my competitive spirit is high.”
Broad’s enduring partnership with Jimmy Anderson has now produced more wickets in tandem than any other in Test history, surpassing the 1,001 wickets shared by Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. “New Zealand is a special country for us. Back in 2008 at Wellington, we came into the team together,” Broad said.
“To go past two heroes of mine growing up, McGrath and Warne … well, we’re not in the category or quality of those two. They were absolutely heroic in what they did for the game.
“But I feel very lucky to have been born in the same era as Jimmy. I’ve learned so much from him. He’s probably the reason I’m still going at 36. He’s a great leader to follow.”
