England pacer Stuart Broad insisted that he is on good terms with former captain Joe Root, as he quashed speculation of a rift with him after being dropped for the West Indies tour earlier this year.
Broad and James Anderson were dropped from the England team for the three-match Test series in the Caribbean, where they suffered a 1-0 series defeat. This led to Joe Root stepping down as the captain and ECB naming Ben Stokes as the new Test captain.
After that, there were speculations of a rift between Broad and Root, but the pacer denied it by saying it would be "pathetic" if there was fallout over his omission for the West Indies tour.
He is currently part of the England squad for the ongoing Test series against New Zealand at home. Broad snared four wickets in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.
Broad told reporters: “Joe and I spoke at length when he stood down as captain and I said to him how much he’s meant to me as a captain, and what a privilege it was playing under him.”
The 35-year-old added, “I told him I hope he really enjoys the next few years. He’s already a legend of the game … Joe and I are great friends. I can’t fall out with someone because they don’t pick me in a team, that would be a bit pathetic.”
Broad signed off by saying, “I started this season not knowing if I’d pull on the England shirt again … it’s been one of the most fun weeks, we’ve had as a team.”
(With Reuters Inputs)
