Ashes 2015: Stuart Broad ready to lead attack in Anderson’s absence

Ashes 2015: Stuart Broad ready to lead in Anderson’s absence: Stuart Broad said he is ready to lead the English pace bowling attack in the 4^th Ashes test starting 6^th August after Anderson’s side strain injury in the last test at Edgbaston, where England registered 8 wickets win leading the series by 2-1. The next game is to be played at Trent Bridge Stuart Broad’s hometown where, a win can seal the series for the hosts. Anderson’s absence will affect the English side, not only because of his performance in the last game and that he is the best bowler in Test for England with 413 wickets but also, for the fact that he has a brilliant record at Trent Bridge. Anderson has 53 wickets in 8 Tests at an average of 19.24, with a 10 wicket haul in the first Test of Ashes 2013.

Also read: What happened to Michael Clarke’s batting form?

Broad told the Mail, “In Jimmy’s absence, it’s going to be up to all the other bowlers to step up. I’ve probably not got as many wickets as I’d have liked during this series (12 in three matches at 27.41 apiece) but I feel as if I’ve bowled the best I’ve bowled for a long time. You don’t know what’s going to happen, but hopefully, I’ll take on that extra responsibility to ensure we’re not crying out for Jimmy over the next couple of days.”

The series seal for England is not the only thing is cards, Stuart Broad will enter the field on 6^th August with 1 wicket away from completing his 300 Test wickets and becoming the fifth one to do so in England after Anderson, Ian Botham, Bob Wills and the late Fred Trueman.

He said, “It would have been nice to have got there at Edgbaston but the chance to achieve it at Trent Bridge is incredibly exciting” he said. Broad is also to complete a ‘double’ as he will be the 12^th player to have 300 wickets with 2000 Test runs, where he has already scored more than 2000 runs which also include his knock of 169 against Pakistan, which is also his best. One of the other players in the list includes the name of Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson.

“I’m told only 11 players have scored 2000 runs and taken 300 wickets in the history of the (Test) game so it’s quite illustrious company.” Broad added.