The Motera stadium has the potential to outdo the atmosphere at the MCG: Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad, the England fast bowler, reckons that the new-look Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad has the potential to transcend the atmosphere at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The newly-revamped stadium in India has a seating capacity of 1,10,000 with high-tech indoor facilities. The last two Tests between India and England are set to be played at the Motera itself.

Players from both teams have reached the venue and have been left awestruck by the ambiance. Broad feels that in terms of crowd noise the Motera can outdo at the MCG, which has a seating capacity in excess of 90,000. The speedster also feels that the atmosphere at the ground during the T20 World Cup later this year would be surreal.

It’s like a coliseum: Stuart Broad

“I have to say that this new stadium at Motera, the biggest in the world, is so impressive that it has a bit of an aura about it even when empty. It’s like a coliseum. I can only imagine what it will be like at 50 per cent capacity, with 55,000 people in, from Wednesday.

“And with 110,000, at a World Cup match later this year, for example, I don’t know if we would be able to hear ourselves think,” Broad was quoted as saying in his column for Daily Mail.

Broad, who’s England’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests after James Anderson, went down the memory lane and recalled the atmosphere during an Ashes Test back in 2017-18.

“The loudest I’ve ever heard a crowd was at the MCG in the 2017-18 Ashes when I caught David Warner on 99 — only for us to discover Tom Curran had bowled a no-ball. When he got to his hundred next ball, the noise was incredible but I think this ground has the potential to outdo it,” Broad added.

Broad hasn’t had much to do in the ongoing tour of India thus far. He didn’t play the first game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. But at the same venue, he got a chance in the second Test. However, he couldn’t pick up a wicket in the 20 overs he bowled.