Broad: Getting Axed Has Helped Me Bowl Faster Than For Four Years

Chris Stocks catches up with Stuart Broad who, at the age of 33, has enjoyed an Indian summer in this Ashes series as England’s premier senior bowler

- Chris Stocks

Stuart Broad agrees his form with the ball this summer is the best it has been since the 2015 Ashes series and has credited England’s decision to drop him over the winter as the reason why he feels “re-invented” as a bowler.

At 33, Broad could be forgiven for thinking ahead to life after cricket, but instead the Nottinghamshire bowler is targeting at least two more years at the top after an impressive Ashes series.

England’s hopes of adding the Ashes to the World Cup this summer may have gone after last week’s defeat at Old Trafford.

Yet that was no fault of Broad, who before the start of this week’s final Test at The Oval had bowled more overs (148.1) and taken more wickets (19) than any other England bowler. He could have had even more wickets, too, as he has been consistently excellent opening the bowling.

The new ball, and his place in the team, was something Broad lost briefly during the winter, when he played only three of England’s six Tests in Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

However, that stint out of the team – he missed the first two Tests in Sri Lanka and the first in the Caribbean – has had long-term benefits and Broad feels he is bowling as well as he has since the 2015 Ashes, when he memorably took 8-15 to destroy Australia at his home ground of Trent Bridge.