Nottinghamshire & England all-rounder Stuart Broad is targeting a return for the ICC Cricket World Cup in the spring, now that he has returned to full fitness following surgery on a career-threatening knee injury earlier in the summer.
After rehabilitating with physio Jon Alty at Trent Bridge, Broad reflected on his time on the sidelines, as well as eyeing a competitive return before Christmas.
“The surgery has gone brilliantly,” he said..
“I’ve been running flat out now for two-and-a-half weeks and I did my first proper bowling last Friday. I’ll go to Potchefstroom (South Africa) with the England Lions on December 1.
“If I have no setbacks I’ll be good to go for the World Cup. I needed the break, though. By the end of last summer I was emotionally shattered. The summer was tough physically and mentally.
“I was having hot baths in the middle of the night because I couldn’t sleep. I was in so much pain from the knee. Mentally it was quite draining. Just driving up and down the country I could barely be at the wheel for 20 minutes before I’d be in agony and have to stop.
“Not that I needed reminding but when you have a break like this you think about those dark moments you have on tour when you’re questioning everything and you realise; this is my life and it’s what I love doing. You know it’s been a good break when you’re champing at the bit to go again.”
Broad also spoke of the much-publicised claims of bullying inside the England dressing room following the release of Kevin Pietersen’s explosive autobiography earlier in the autumn. Pietersen targeted the England bowling pack for their treatment of others, and while Broad admitted expressing disappointment at poor fielding on occasion, he reflected on Pietersen’s time with England as a hugely positive one.
“It is sad and disappointing to hear KP saying he felt bullied throughout his England career,” said Broad.
“There’s no right or wrong. It’s his opinion and he has every right to express those opinions.
“I’ve not heard other people say they felt it was that way but I can’t sit here and say he is wrong because if he felt that way then he’s right to come out and say so. But I wasn’t aware he felt like that at the time and I don’t believe other players were either.
‘That word “bullying” never entered my head at any stage in eight years of playing alongside KP in the dressing room. I’m sad if he felt that way.
“My opinion on the team during an incredibly successful period for English cricket was that it was a hugely positive period to be involved in. Andrew Strauss was one of the best captains I’ve played under and Andy Flower was a hugely influential coach. It was extremely enjoyable and if you speak to guys like Cook, Bell, Anderson, Swann, Bresnan, Prior and other guys who were involved in that period I’m sure they’d give a different view to Kev’s.
“When I retire I’ll look back on that period as one of the happiest times of my career; winning trophies, enjoying team-mates’ success, getting to the top of the world rankings. It’s hard to find any fault with that really.”
‘I’ve certainly had times when I expressed my disappointment at a poor piece of fielding but it’s always come from an inner will to help the team get better,’ Broad said. ‘I can’t remember any raised voices or arguments in the changing room or when guys have come off the field and said “that was too much” or “that was too aggressive”. Generally you sort those things out at the time.”
While it’s easy to imagine the highly-charged mindset of a professional sportsman, only those involved in the game will know what the feelings truly are, and how to respond in the high-pressure situations the game demands.
“I grew up admiring sporting heroes like Martin Johnson, Lewis Moody, Peter Schmeichel, Stuart Pearce and sportsmen like that. They were all fairly outgoing, want-to-win type of characters,” added Broad.
‘I wonder if guys like Gary Pallister and Steve Bruce were offended when Peter Schmeichel shouted at them when they made a mistake? I don’t know, you’d have to ask them.
‘I don’t know what has gone on with Kevin and the ECB hierarchy but it’s worth remembering some highly skilled and highly qualified coaches and managing directors have decided KP will not be in the team. To suggest the players pushed him out because he didn’t get on with everyone is simply wrong.”
Now feeling free to concentrate on England’s fortunes going forward, Broad has remained closely involved with the national side in their preparations for a seven-match ODI series against Sri Lanka which begins this week. After stepping out of the whirlwind and taking stock of his country’s situation, he added that he has never been more excited for a return to action.
“Last summer was tough but by the end of that India Test series it really felt like we were playing an exciting and aggressive form of cricket again,” he said. “There’s something in this England team now that is hungry again with people wanting to play for England again.
“We’ve got the players to win a World Cup. Ok, we might not be favourites by any stretch of the imagination but with the likes of Cook, Morgan, Anderson, Buttler, Bell, Root and then the excitement of Jordan, Stokes, Finn there’s a great balance.
“Personally, my hunger hasn’t been diminished at all. The World Cup is next and that’s probably all we should be talking about, but I have this burning fire to get those Ashes back.
“I’ve known I needed this operation since last January and I’ve always seen it as a bridge for my career. I’ve done the good half, got this little bridge now to get fitter and stronger and get more pace, before embarking on another six years for a strong finish.”
England return to Trent Bridge in June to face New Zealand in the fourth Royal London One-Day international. With tickets moving quickly, don’t miss the chance to witness what promises to be an absorbing contest and secure your seats now.