Brief profile of Stuart Broad by John Dobson

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Player:

SCJ Broad

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DateLine: 3rd November 2006

 

Although initially a batsmen, like his father Chris, Stuart's 6 foot 7 frame obviously leant itself to a fast bowling future.

 

After making his reserve team bow at Leicestershire in 2004 in 2005 he stepped up effectively to the first team after destroying Sri Lanka’s batsmen for England in an under 19 series.

 

He was involved in the England academy squad in the subsequent winter and then called up to the A team in the West Indies as injury cover.

 

However it was his summer form in 2006 that started to draw serious attention for the first time. Though not part of the Foxes regular one day set up it was the Twenty20 cup that highlighted Broad’s rise. He not only took 12 wickets at a mean of 12 runs but bowled with pace and movement, seemingly unperturbed by the complete lack of cover the fielding restrictions offered him. This was backed up by 48 first class wickets and many clambered for him to be in the last test match against Pakistan.

 

Though not selected for that game he only had to wait until the one-day matches for international recognition. Despite fears that Darren Gough was needed to shepherd the inexperienced Broad, it was the Leicester man who had the better series of the two openers. He showed he was capable of getting wickets, maintaining control and crucially, when the free flowing Pakistan attack did get after him, he came back with considerable composure.

 

The main potential stumbling block for him could be his similarity to Steve Harmison, Sajid Mahmood and Chris Tremlett, though if he can re-discover his batting talent of childhood that might be too tempting a package for the selectors to resist.

 

Broad missed out on Ashes place but tours with the academy in Perth

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2006 John Dobson)