Others might have been seen off by now, but not Stuart Broad.
The veteran paceman is gearing up for his 153rd Test match for England this week under his sixth captain and his fifth coach. And despite having been axed from the team five times since the start of 2019, Broad is determined to retain a youthful outlook on a career that is unquestionably in its autumnal phase.
The most recent dropping saw him and James Anderson left out of the tour to the West Indies, as skipper Joe Root and England wanted to have a look at other younger options. Broad was rightly upset, but with a new England tracksuit on at Lord’s and a new captain to play for, he has let go of the rage but kept the fire burning as he looks to add to his tally of 537 Test wickets.
“I was disappointed to miss out on a Test tour,” said Broad. “But that's life and that's selection. I think every sports person has to prove their worth all the time and I’m excited to be here at Lord's, and the fact I’m still here is as much to do with my mindset and drive to keep improving.
“I'm going in with the mindset to attack each week and leave my heart and soul on the field. I just want to feel fresh and attack the strategy at Lord's. You don't look too far ahead when you make your Test debut, you're just excited to play the next game, so I’m coming into each Test match like I’ve never played before, but with the luxury of the experience I do have.”
The 35-year-old bowler has already been told he wasn’t playing in a Test by Ben Stokes the captain once before, when he stood in for Root in 2020. This time both coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes have been clear that they see Broad and Anderson as being part of the best bowling attack available to them in the short term.
And when the inevitable time arrives when Broad is unable to get those arms and legs pumping for the good of English cricket, it would appear he has already made his peace with it. McCullum made the point last week: “If you understand your mortality as a cricketer, I think you're then really able to enjoy and find that sweet spot in the final years of your career.”
And Broad appears to be enjoying whatever he has got left. “As a professional sportsperson if you don’t believe you’re one of the best bowlers in the country then you’re stuffed aren’t you because that’s the starting place,” he added. “I still have a lot to offer the team, but I’m loving seeing the new bowlers coming through like Matthew Potts. Hopefully Jimmy and I can help him with our experience. I’m very grateful for what I’ve got this week. It just makes you realise that, yes, these careers don’t go on forever, you’ve got to get as much out of it as you possibly can and enjoy it.
“The moment I stop enjoying and lose that competitive spirit then I won’t be the fast bowler I am, no doubt about that.” While he is still willing and able, England need to squeeze every last drop they can out of him, because above all else. He really is rather good.
