
Stuart Broad, England pacer cleared the air about his relationship with former captain Joe Root on Monday. The veteran bowler was not picked for the tour of West Indies along with bowling partner James Anderson earlier this year. The 1-0 loss in the Caribbean Islands ended up being Joe Root’s final assignment as captain of the England Test side.
Following a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the Ashes, the revamped England management chose to send a new-look pace unit. Stuart Broad picked up 13 wickets from three Tests in Australia Ashes 2021/22 at a decent average of 26 but was axed for the Caribbean tour.
The likes of Saqib Mahmood, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, and Craig Overton featured in the three-match Test series. James Anderson has taken 646 wickets in 170 tests and is leading England’s Test wicket-taker while Stuart Broad is second on England’s all-time list of wicket-takers, with 541 in 153 matches.

Stuart Broad Cleared The Air Concerning Relationship With Ex-Skipper Joe Root After Being Omitted For West Indies Tour
England had recalled their senior pace duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the home assignment against inaugural WTC winners New Zealand. The 35-year-old pacer was recalled to the squad for Ben Stokes’ maiden series as Test captain. The right-arm pacer marked his return with figures of 1/45 and 3/76 in the five-wicket win over New Zealand at Lord’s.
Opining that holding a grudge over Joe Root regarding the selection snub would be pathetic, Stuart Broad said: “Joe and I spoke at length when he stood down as captain and I said to him how much he’s meant to me and what a privilege it was playing under him. Joe and I are great friends. And I’ve always been someone who can distinguish between business and pleasure. I can’t fall out with someone because they don’t pick me in a team, that would be a bit pathetic.”

The senior duo of Stuart Broad and James Anderson were seriously contemplating their future with the Three Lions after being dropped from the away tour.
Stuart Broad Had Doubted His Chances To Represent England
However, they have been encouraged to carry on, at least for the ongoing English summer under the new captain-coach combination of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
Admitting that he seriously doubted his chances of representing England for the home season, Broad said: “I started this season not knowing if I’d pull on the England shirt again, I was just enjoying every day for what it was. Jimmy turns 40 this year, four years ago was he thinking 2018 might be his last at Old Trafford? Probably not. I’ll attack this week with the same mindset: I’ll walk out on that first day, look around the stands, and know how lucky I am to be there.”

Stuart Broad is likely to be retained in the playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand at his home ground of Trent Bridge, Nottingham. England is currently 1-0 ahead in the three-match series. England’s five-wicket win over New Zealand was their first in ten games since beating India at Headingley last August, and it hailed a new era under skipper Ben Stokes and Test head coach Brendon McCullum.
The stunning match-winning knock of unbeaten 115 from the ex-England skipper Joe Root also helped him achieve a major record. His 26th Test ton helped him become only the second England batsman after Alastair Cook to score 10000 runs in the longest format of the game.