English speedster Stuart Broad is expected to miss the cricketing action till the Ashes against the Aussies later in the year after scans on his heel injury revealed that he needs some substantial break to make himself fit ahead of the Ashes.
Broad won’t mind in missing out on a few series to play the Ashes, as he is well aware of the fact that he needs to be with the team to forge a great combination with James Anderson.
Broad will be a vital member of the English team if they hope to win the Ashes Down Under, which begins in November. Though it won’t be an easy task to beat the Aussies at home given England’s solid team in the longest format, a surprise series victory cannot be ruled out.
Meanwhile Broad recently became the 2nd leading wicket taker for England in Tests, going past the great Ian Botham. His partner James Anderson is the leader of the pack and is the only English bowler to bag more than 500 wickets.
Also Broad feels that he will “strive” on the sort of hostile reception given to the England players in Gabba when the first Test gets underway. The relationship between Broad and the Australian team hasn’t been great as, during the 2013 Ashes in England, Broad refused to walk despite edging a delivery from Ashton Agar to the slips. The ball came off the outside edge and the slip fielder caught without any fail.
But the umpire failed to pick it up, and Broad refused to walk. Then when England travelled Down Under for the return Ashes, Broad was given an unfriendly welcome.
“I think as an England player you’d be disappointed if you didn’t get stick at the Gabba – that’s gone on for years,” Broad told reporters.
“But I love all that, you’re in the battle straight away, and it sort of helps me as a cricketer. I seem to thrive off the extra spice, and there will be a bit of that,” Broad signed off.