England's second-highest Test wicket-taker has for a while had people speculating over his future.
Yet, Stuart Broad was considered dispensable to the side's needs ahead of the first Test against West Indies after the break. And even though Broad returned for the next Test in Manchester, there is a feeling that he is being deemed nearer to his end than the veteran pacer himself thinks he is.
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Broad, England's second-highest Test wicket-taker, had publicly expressed that he was "frustrated and angry" on being left out in Southampton. The anger and frustration may have been piling on for a while actually, with him considered as deep into the twilight phase as his longstanding pace partner James Anderson, from whom he is three years younger at 34.
Channelling those thoughts well, Broad said he feels inspired by Anderson's longevity, the ability to time and again make comebacks and respond to people's criticism of his bowling.
"I think sometimes I get put in an older category than I am," Broad told reporters. "Jimmy has taken around 130 Test wickets since he was my age, why can't I do the same?"
"I'm hungry, my fitness levels are good. Why not try and emulate what Jimmy has done and play to his age? I feel I can. Today proved that again. When I set goals it makes me hungry to achieve them," he said.
England skipper Joe Root signalled before the second Test after resting Anderson that the days of him playing together in the line-up with Broad maybe over. The selectors are looking to prolong the duo's stay individually and also add extra pace, variety to the attack with an eye to regaining the Ashes in Australia on the 2021-22 trip.
Broad, however, disagrees if that indeed is the long-term thinking.
"I'd be surprised if that was the route decided," he said. "We've been very successful. It's such a unique summer with six Tests over six weeks that rotation will be necessary. We get put in a category together but we both perform well without each other and with each other."
"I want to play with Jimmy again and hope he feels the same. We complement each other and create a lot of pressure together."
"When our paths cross again might depend on workloads but I hope we play together this summer and would be surprised if we don't," Broad concluded.
(Inputs from AFP)