Stuart Broad: The Talisman Who Follows Ben Stokes' Footsteps

At this time 13 years ago, Stuart Broad was two months away from enduring the pain of six sixes in an over in a T20 international. And five months later his Test debut beckoned in Colombo, which was not eventful by any means, picking up the sole wicket of Chaminda Vaas. Nevertheless, Stuart Broad was one of the most economical bowlers despite Sri Lanka amassing 594 in a drawn game.

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It was two years after in Kingston that Broad picked up his first of the 17 fifers in his Test career. Yet, it got overshadowed by England’s ignominious batting display in the second innings. While the Nottinghamshire seamer claimed a three-wicket haul in Antigua, he could not prevent a series loss.

At Leeds, against Australia in the 2009 Ashes, Broad’s six-wicket haul was not enough once more to avoid an innings loss. However, it was a beginning to something spectacular for years to follow and perhaps a series-changing one too.

With the series locked at 1-1, Broad delivered five wickets to skittle Australia for 160, gaining a lead of 172 at the Oval. While Stuart Broad snapped only one wicket in the second innings and at a reasonably expensive rate but it was of Shane Watson, one who could have taken the tourists slightly closer than Michael Hussey did.

Nevertheless, Broad’s jaw-dropping spell in the first innings was not only every deserving of the man of the match but also was the turning point of his career.

Stuart Broad’s work ethic impresses one and all:

Over the years, Broad kept sending down legendary bowling spells. There was a six-wicket haul against India in Nottingham in 2011 while also delivering satisfying spells in Dubai a few months later in losing efforts. It followed a seven-for at the Lord’s against the West Indies in 2012, six-for against India in Manchester 2014, and the unforgettable eight scalps in one inning at the Trent Bridge during the 2015 Ashes.

Despite which, England decided to leave Stuart Broad out of the equation for the first Test in Southampton against the West Indies. Perhaps as much James Anderson was effective, even he could not produce a magical piece of bowling that Broad did in the next two. Meanwhile, outside the ground, Broad expressed his frustrations and anger, emphasising his recent record and iterating that he is in the best shape of his career.

England might not have necessarily learnt their lesson with their defeat in Southampton, but Stuart Broad probably came into the side due to England’s rotation policy of pacers. England had the reason to rue Broad’s selection in the second Test as they needed that magic from him on the fourth day. While tight enough, Broad and Woakes were unable to give the hosts what they needed – early breakthroughs in West Indies’ first innings with only a day and a half to play.

Joe Root took the second new-ball and Broad struck straightaway, trapping Shamarh Brooks plumb in front. With the bandana on his head, he looked nothing less than a man on a mission, tearing through twice more in successive overs, sending back Jermaine Blackwood and Shane Dowrich – two men who were decisive to their win in Southampton. It gave the West Indian batsman a reality check that he cannot be kept down for long enough.

This is not to discount the effort from Ben Stokes, whose brutality was what England precisely needed to make their opposition bat and bowl out again. Stuart Broad gave the home side a dream start in the fourth innings by targetting John Campbell’s weakness outside off stump, enticing him to drive. The full juicy delivery went into Buttler’s gloves which, when reviewed, detected a nick.

Three years ago, in pursuit of 322 in Leeds, Shai Hope looked right in the game and had not given his wicket even once to Broad throughout the series. Instead, now, he looked listless against him as the delivery nipping off the seam cut him into half to smash on to the stumps. Before lunch, Broad came up with one of his typical dismissals a nip-backer and Roston Chase was stuck on the crease. Then again, it was Stokes’ indefatigable spell of short-pitched delivery that broke the century stand between Brooks and Blackwood from where the West Indies kept sliding down.

Stuart Broad, the batsman, comes to the party:

Before walking out to bat in the first innings of the third Test, Stuart Broad had not scored a fifty since December 2017. That, who significantly contributed to the highest eighth-wicket partnership in history, had not passed fifty in nearly three years. England also had situations amid those where he had the opportunity to put his hands up and reinstate his batting credentials. Even during Stokes’ Headingley phenomenon, James Pattinson removed him for a duck with more than 70 away. And it wasn’t easy to imagine him regaining his form back against Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach as they were on song with the new ball on the second morning.

But he did. He delivered. The hosts found themselves in a hole at 280-8 after comfortably ending the third day at 258-4 even with Stokes departing for an underwhelming score. His first boundary sailed over the ropes, thwacking the ball to mid-wicket powerfully. Moving forward, Broad did enjoy few shaves of luck, but most of it was brute force and risk-free strokes, playing on all sides of the wicket without respecting any of their pace bowlers. He brought his fifty by clubbing a short-pitched delivery from Holder backward of square for a 33-ball half-century.

Stuart Broad basts for the best:

By this time, the visitors knew they were in a fix as things went slightly beyond control with England approaching 350. Four overs later, Stuart Broad’s greediness got the better of him, but he snatched the momentum from the West Indies with his 45-ball 62 that ultimately guided his side to 369. Perhaps against the likes of Anderson, Broad himself, Jofra Archer, and Chris Woakes, that was going to take a Steve Smith-type defiance.

Of Broad’s six in the first innings, Chase, Holder, Rahkheem Cornwall went back due to LBWS that appreciably nipped back off the seam.

Perhaps the ball that got Roach on the third day also nibbled off the seam except for it took an edge to the slip, giving his fifth wicket and bundling them out for 197. While the conditions did do the trick for English bowlers, Broad and Anderson continued bowling relentlessly long spells with accuracy.

Salvation and Stuart Broad:

With 399 for the visitors to get, the lethal pair of Anderson and Broad were out to get them again. Broad’s wicket-tally was at 497 and by the time the day ended, he was one shy of joining Glenn McGrath, Courtney Walsh, and none other than James Anderson – the only three amongst fast bowlers to pass 500 Test scalps. Stuart Broad was again at the forefront of putting the West Indies on the backfoot and come out on the fourth day merely to avoid the inevitable.

Ben Stokes was indeed the driving force behind England’s quick turnaround and the way they want to play. But at 33, Stuart Broad is more greedy than ever, unplayable, unstoppable, relentless, irresistible and performed a Ben Stokes-like rescue mission for England. He single-handedly fired England on the cusp of regaining the last ever Wisden Trophy, channelising his anger and frustrations with series-turning performances.

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