“Don’t think it’s quite right”: Stuart Broad opines on ICC World Test Championship format

Stuart Broad: The veteran English pacer welcomes the concept of a Test Championship but hopes for a change in the format going ahead.

Veteran England pacer Stuart Broad is confident of both himself and another veteran in James Anderson to play together in the same Playing XI in the upcoming international summer.

In the past, there have been doubts around the prospect of Broad and Anderson in the same XI affecting their attack and also restricting opportunities for the younger lot. Having said that, the legendary bowlers have picked enough wickets time and again to silence the doubters especially when it comes to playing Test cricket in England.

Speaking at a NatWest Cricket Force event, Broad threw weight behind England not using the rotation policy while playing in England. With England scheduled to host New Zealand in the first Test of the summer from June 2 at Lord’s, Broad hoped for both him and Anderson to take the field.

“By the end of last summer I think we showed that Jimmy [James Anderson] and I were both in the best bowling attack in England. I don’t see that [rotation] ploy being used in England.

“There are seven Tests [two and five against New Zealand and India respectively] and both of us might not play them all but we have shown great longevity and consistency. With us only playing red-ball cricket, there are guys who might need to rest for white-ball opportunities. I’d hope for both of us to be in the first Test of the summer,” Broad said at a NatWest Cricket Force event.

In the last three years, Broad and Anderson have been England’s highest Test wicket-takers with 107 and 83 wickets coming in 30 and 24 Tests respectively.

Stuart Broad opines on ICC World Test Championship format

In a separate interview, Broad opined on the inaugural ICC World Test Championship format. With its final set to be played between New Zealand and India next month, the 34-year old player termed the concept as “really good” for giving more context to Test matches.

Having said that, much like many other eminent voices, Broad has also called for a change in the format to ensure that points in the Test Championship are awarded in sync with the opposition team.

Counting down the days until we see a Broady celebrappeal 😜 pic.twitter.com/gE1GgwRGyT

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 10, 2021

“The World Test Championship is a really good concept, I just don’t think it’s quite right yet. It’s a first-time effort. I can’t quite work out how a five-match Ashes series can be worth the same as India playing Bangladesh for two Tests.

“There’s something in the idea and it has given great context to the game but there needs to be work done on how it all comes together, I think” Broad was quoted as saying by PA News Agency.

Currently representing Nottinghamshire in County Championship 2021, Broad’s 14 wickets in three matches have come at an average of 17.92, an economy rate of 2.46 and a strike rate of 43.7.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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