'Angry' Stuart Broad exposes failed England bowlers after horror show vs India in 1st Test
Published - 21 Jun 2025, 04:41 PM | Updated - 21 Jun 2025, 05:26 PM
Stuart Broad has lashed out at the Ben Stokes-led England National Cricket Team for their poor bowling performance as India finished Day 1 of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy opener at 359 for three on Friday, June 20, at the Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
Ben Stokes surprised many by opting to bowl first at Headingley, even though the weather was humid and the pitch looked good for batting. They took that call considering the past records, where teams bowling first had won the last six tests at the Headingley Stadium.
Stuart Broad slams England’s bowling as India dominates Day 1 at Headingley
India started strong with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal looking confident. But the England captain struck twice as he first removed Rahul for 42 and then dismissed debutant Sai Sudharsan for a duck on the last ball before lunch. After the early setbacks, Jaiswal and Shubman Gill turned things around.
The young opener Jaiswal scored his fifth Test century, while Shubman Gill stayed unbeaten on 127. During the process, the new India Test captain stitched a crucial 129-run partnership for the third wicket with Jaiswal, who was dismissed for 101 shortly after tea.
And then India’s new vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant joined the party. Pant played a typically aggressive knock and finished the day on 65 not out. The left-handed batter and Gill stitched an unbroken 138-run stand to lead India to a dominant position and put England under pressure in the opening test of the five-match test series.
England bowlers didn't fully execute their plans: Stuart Broad
Meanwhile, Stuart Broad wasn’t impressed with England’s bowling on Day 1 against India. The former England fast bowler felt the bowlers missed their lines and lengths and didn’t stick to their plans properly, and the Indian batters made the most of the loose balls.
Stuart Broad was quoted as saying by Sky Sports Cricket, “It didn’t feel like the England bowlers fully executed their plans. I don't think they got it quite right—but that doesn't mean they can't do so this morning and turn the game around. I think when the bowlers went full, they went a bit too full.”
Notably, James Anderson and Broad had already retired from the game, and then Jofra Archer and Mark Wood were injured, which weakened England’s bowling attack, and the bowlers struggled under sunny skies against India at Headingley.
Chris Woakes went wicketless in 19 overs, while Ben Stokes was the only bright side for the hosts, taking 2 wickets for 43 runs against India on Day 1 of the first Test.
Stuart Broad says England's field placements weren’t ideal
Furthermore, the former pacer also believed that the hosts’ field placements weren’t ideal, allowing Indian batters to score freely and take control.
Broad explained, “And I feel England could have used a straighter field—maybe a straight mid-off, a straight mid-on, and an extra cover instead of a backward point.”
The commentator signed off by saying, “To me, backward point only comes into play if the ball is hit directly at it. Anywhere on either side, and it's four. So, I'd say, get rid of the backward point, bring in an extra cover, and encourage the batters to play with a straighter bat, especially if you're bowling that slightly fuller length.”
Read Also: Virat Kohli’s absence makes Nasser Hussain sad during India vs England 1st Test
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