England fast bowler Stuart Broad has said that he could have had a positive influence on The Gabba pitch if he had played the game.
Broad and Anderson both were left out of England squad for the Ashes opener in Brisbane.
England were defeated by Australia in the first Test by 9 wickets. The home team got the target of just 20 runs to chase in the fourth innings.
Broad and his pace partner James Anderson, with a combined 1156 Test wickets, were left out of the playing eleven for the first Ashes Test, a decision which left many experts baffled as England lost by nine wickets on day four.
“It would be wrong in this scenario to kick up a stink. On the flip side, I love Ashes cricket, love bowling at the Gabba and feel like I could’ve had a positive influence on a pitch like that. Of course, I was disappointed not to play but I also realise this series is a marathon and not a sprint. Never have five Test matches been as bunched up as this and it will be exhausting, so realistically I don’t think any seamer will play all five,” wrote Broad in his column for Daily Mail on Sunday.
Broad termed his omission as ‘less of a surprise’. “I’ve been left out on numerous occasions and sometimes it comes as a real surprise. This was less of a surprise, maybe because I wasn’t in the team for the previous series against India due to a calf injury. People were suggesting I’d been dropped but that is factually incorrect.”
Broad signed off by narrating a funny incident featuring him and former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath.
“Despite the disappointment, I did see the funny side of things when seconds before the toss, Glenn McGrath approached me and shook my hand between high catches I was practicing on the outfield. ‘Congratulations on 150, mate, it’s a special effort, have a great game,’ he said. I thanked him but had to tell him I wasn’t in. An awkward moment but one which raised an embarrassed smile and a chuckle.”
The second Test will be played in a day-night format at the Adelaide Oval from December 16.
