My career is about to take off a bit- Stuart Broad ahead of New Zealand Test

Published - 20 Mar 2018, 06:11 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:50 PM

England’s Stuart Broad expects surge after slump in New Zealand. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

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England fast bowler Stuart Broad is optimistic his career is on the brink of another surge ahead of the Test series against New Zealand. Meanwhile, England will play a two-match Test series starting from March 22 at Auckland.

Broad has 399 wickets going into the day-night test after a disappointing 2017. Further, the right-arm pacer has not taken a five-wicket haul for the past two years. His six for 17 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2016 was the last time he ran through an opposition.

Stuart Broad is hopeful of recovering his form for England in the Test series against New Zealand. — Credit: AP

Broad on the brinks of losing the new ball:

Meanwhile, Broad now faces the prospect of losing the new ball for England. Chris Woakes and Mark Wood shared the new ball alongside James Anderson in England’s warm-up games on the New Zealand tour. However, Broad seemed not too worried about this.

“I think we’re just going to be a bit more flexible,” Broad told reporters. “The same people don’t have to take the new ball as the second new ball. We’re just trying to find ways to improve us really because there’s no hiding place from the fact, away from home, we haven’t got it right,” he added.

England lost two consecutive series, first against Indian and then in the Ashes series against Australia. However, Broad said he had worked hard in the nets to put everything back in place.

“I’ve just got that feeling, something in my stomach that tells me my career is about to take off a bit,” Broad said. “I’m someone who can change games and that’s how I view myself as a cricketer. It actually influenced some of the changes I made in February. I felt I got too technical, constantly looking at videos. I’ve got that buzz back,” he mentioned.

Lucky to play alongside Anderson:

Meanwhile, one more wicket will take Broad make him the second Englishman behind Anderson to enter the 400-wicket club. Broad also paid glowing tributes to the side’s most experienced bowler.

“To think Jimmy has got more than 500 test wickets is pretty incredible really and I’ve been standing at mid-on for most of them I think,” Broad said.

“Yeah, it’s been special to have that partnership and share some of the things that have gone, the test match wins. Certainly seeing the way he’s gone about his business has helped me and there’s no way I’d be near 400 test wickets without having the luck of playing in the same era as Jimmy Anderson. Absolutely not,” Broad concluded.