Stuart Broad senses a new beginning is under way for him and his England team-mates as they finally free themselves from the hangover of last winter’s Ashes whitewash.
Broad (three for 65) and James Anderson (three for 52) had to work especially hard to take six India wickets between them as the tourists closed day three of the third Test on 323 for eight in reply to 569 for seven declared.
But their deserved success, in batting conditions at the Ageas Bowl, is a prime indication to Broad – after some disappointing showings of late – that England are back on track.
A pep talk with coach Peter Moores appears to have done the trick for the pace bowler, who cited the return to form of captain Alastair Cook and a big hundred from Ian Bell as further evidence that the talented core of England’s team is firing again.
“I think maybe the (senior) players have put too much pressure on themselves – after what, since the Durham Test (last summer), has been a pretty tough run,” he said.
“Mooresy came to a few of us and said ‘just go and express yourself – don’t worry about having to take responsibility …just go and play, like it’s your first Test match. I think that’s shone through a little bit.”
Anderson and Broad have become only the third pair of pace bowlers to rack up 500 Test wickets in partnership – joining Pakistan’s Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, and West Indies’ Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.
Broad said: “To go into the company of Wasim and Waqar and Courtney and Curtly is a huge honour – four heroes of mine.
“I think it shows the value of partnerships as bowlers. Jimmy and I are constantly talking, not just out on the field but in nets together.
“Even now, we’ve played a lot of Test match cricket, I’ll still ask Jimmy at the end of an over ‘what shall I bowl?’
“We work together really tightly. I hope we can take a few more.”
