‘He congratulated me for 150th Test but I was not in the XI’ – Stuart Broad reveals ‘awkward moment’ with Glenn McGrath ahead of 1st Ashes Test

England have made a horrendous start to their Ashes 2021-22 campaign, suffering a nine-wicket defeat in the opening clash in Brisbane. Many loopholes in the visiting team were exposed and many are not backing Joe Root’s men to bounce back. Interestingly, the Three Lions didn’t field two of their most successful pacers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, in the playing XI.

Notably, Broad would have made his 150th Test appearance, had he been in the playing XI for the Gabba Test. However, skipper Root and the team management had different plans as Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood formed the three-man pace attack in the game. Meanwhile, Broad has revealed that his approaching milestone put him in an awkward situation ahead of the toss in Brisbane.

Broad revealed that former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath shook hands with him and congratulated him on his 150th Test match. In response, Broad told McGrath that he was not in the line-up. He described it as an ‘awkward moment’ one produced an embarrassed smile.

“Despite the disappointment, I did see the funny side of things when seconds before the toss, Glenn McGrath approached me and shook my hand between high catches I was practicing on the outfield. ‘Congratulations on 150, mate, it’s a special effort, have a great game,’ he said. I thanked him but had to tell him I wasn’t in. An awkward moment but one which raised an embarrassed smile and a chuckle,” wrote Stuart Broad in his column for The Daily Mail.

I was disappointed after being dropped: Stuart Broad

“Of course, I was disappointed not to play but I also realise this series is a marathon and not a sprint. Never have five Test matches been as bunched up as this and it will be exhausting, so realistically I don’t think any seamer will play all five. It would be wrong in this scenario to kick up a stink. On the flip side, I love Ashes cricket, love bowling at the Gabba, and feel like I could’ve had a positive influence on a pitch like that,” he added.

Meanwhile, Australia are 1-0 up in the five-match series. Hence, England have all the chances of scripting a comeback. The second Test, which is day-night fixture, gets underway on December 16 at The Adelaide Oval.