SL v ENG 2018: Benched Stuart Broad agrees with England's decision to leave him out of Sri Lanka Tests

Broad stil happy to be part of Sri Lanka tour despite being benched in both Tests.

Stuart Broad delivered towels and drinks for his teammates in both Sri Lanka Tests | Getty Images

Veteran English fast bowler Stuart Broad has insisted that England has made a right decision not to pick him for the first two victorious Tests of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, saying he could not make big differences on the conditions that did not really favor him here.

However, Broad admitted that it was hard to be benched on tour, but the amount of output the seamers have had and the amount of spin the spinners have been getting was more important and the result that they have won their first Test series in Sri Lanka after 17 years.

Broad told Sky Sports, “We’ve seen in the first two Test matches the amount of output the seamers have had and the amount of spin the spinners have been getting. I don’t think I’d have made a particularly big difference to this England side in these conditions, to be perfectly honest.”

He continued, “Chris Woakes and I were sat mixing the drinks and Jimmy was bowling a lovely spell, the bowler who probably moves it most of any bowler in the world and it wasn’t really moving. Woakesy and I just said, ‘well, if he’s not moving it then we’d have been useless on this, wouldn’t we?’”

With leading 2-0 in the three-match series last one to be played from November 23, there are fewer chances for Broad to make it to the playing XI for the final encounter, but the pacer is really not thinking about it much, saying he is just delighted to be part of the Sri Lanka tour to work on his fitness and the technical aspects of his bowling.

However, the pacer is still hoping of getting a game here and ready to play in the thrid and final Test if he gets opportunity despite not playing in Galle and Kandy.

He further added, “I’ve said whether I play in Sri Lanka or not, I was delighted to be on the tour because it would be easy to say, ‘ah he doesn’t want to come and mix the drinks’ but I do, I want to be part of this England squad and why not leave Sri Lanka in a better place than when you arrived? I’ve worked very hard on my fitness, I’m feeling fresh, I’m feeling fit and I’ve found some technical stuff that’s really improving me. So far, so good really.”

Broad signed off by saying, “I don’t think that me not playing in Galle or Kandy will affect whether I play against Australia next summer. I don’t think that’s overly relevant really. You’ve got to be ready to play the next Test because you never know what will happen but also, why not try and improve yourself as a cricketer?”

(With Sky Sports Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 20 Nov, 2018

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