Fast-bowler Stuart Broad can well find himself in England’s Champions Trophy squad, which starts in June this year, feels ODI captain Eoin Morgan.
On paper, the current England team looks ravishing with powerhouse batters and cheeky all-rounders, however, the only department they seek to polish more, is their bowling. With every passing game, England’s batting has improved, as even in the ongoing bilateral series against India, they posted the score of 350 and 366 in the first two matches.
Talking about their bowling, the seamers have only found success, and that too in the initial 10-12 overs. As in Pune, India were reduced to 63 for four, while in Cuttack, the hosts were three down for 25. In both the ODIs, it was the middle-order who snatched the game away from England, putting more pressure on their death bowlers to pick wickets.
Putting his thoughts down on the selection of Broad for Champions Trophy, Morgan said the lanky seamer looks in good shape while bowling in the BBL and that he has been following his progress from a while now. He also claimed Broad is eager to make his ODI return and if he continues to deliver in such a way, he can surely make the list.
Broad, after the end of 2015 World Cup, has played only two ODI matches, both against South Africa last year.
“STUART’S ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS. I THOUGHT HE CHARGED IN AT THE BIG BASH. I WATCHED ALL HIS GAMES AND HE’S WORKING ON HIS VARIATIONS. IT’S VERY DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO GO STRAIGHT FROM TEST CRICKET TO PLAYING IN THE BIG BASH BUT HE’S MADE A FIST OF IT, SO CREDIT TO HIM. HE WANTS TO PLAY MORE WHITE-BALL CRICKET AND HE CERTAINLY COULD BE AN OPTION FOR THE FUTURE.”
England, on Thursday, lost the Cuttack ODI by 15 runs and thus lost the three-match ODI series 2-0 too. With Alex Hales to miss the rest of the series due to injury, England would find it hard to avoid another whitewash at the hands of Virat Kohli’s men.