ENG v IND 2018: Edgbaston pitch will be difficult to predict due to heatwave, says Stuart Broad

"The bowling unit that adapts quickly will have the upper hand" - Broad.

Stuart Broad | Getty

England speedster Stuart Broad has stated that even the ground staff in Birmingham won't be able to predict how the pitch will play in the first Test against India, as the heatwave soaked all the moisture from the Edgbaston strip.

"It will be a really exciting series as both teams don't know what the pitch will do neither the groundsmen really know because probably they haven't experienced this sort of weather in England for a long time. The lack of moisture that has been around, players will have to adapt," Broad told ESPNCricinfo ahead of the first Test, starting on August 1.

Given the hot English summer, the India and England team management will certainly have a tough time in picking the playing XI. Unlike the preceding season, one might witness the spinners dominating the Test matches this time around.

"The bowling side that can quickly adapt will have more success. (Need to) realize what's the threat. Is it spin, reverse swing, or knee roll seam? We will be discussing all the way through,” Broad remarked.

"Each ground will be different. Trent Bridge might be very different to Lord's. Lord's (track) traditionally in last couple of years have spun quite a lot. Bowlers like Yasir Shah, Moeen Ali have got 10-fors. At Trent Bridge, it doesn't turn that much. So we need to use different skills for different grounds for sure," he added.

Broad, who has taken 417 wickets from 117 Tests, refused to predict as to how the series will pan out.

"It's impossible to tell how the series will go. If the pitches are spin-friendly, the spinners will take a lot of workload. Seam bowlers would not have many overs through them but that will be a wrong mind set to go in thinking that 'I would just want to play five Test matches'. You want to go in there fit and firing in each and every Test match every time," he opined.

However, Broad believes consistency throughout long periods will be key to success in a grueling five-Test series. He also termed India as a stand-out side.

"India are a stand out side in world cricket and they have got some wonderful players, who have adjusted to conditions to all around world," Broad asserted.

"It's going to be a hard-fought series. What I really enjoy is a five-Test series. Generally, your best players win you five-match series. Let's hope, we come out on top. It is nice to have longevity to the series. Generally, the team that adapts and plays best cricket has longevity through the series will win it," he concluded.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 29 Jul, 2018

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