SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 1 hr 57 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Stuart Broad insists he does not have a point to prove

:Headline: Stuart Broad insists he does not have a point to prove: ID:407199: from db_amp
The England bowler, who was left out of last week's defeat in Southampton, claimed three wickets for one run in 14 deliveries after tea.

Stuart Broad is hungry to lead England's pursuit of a series-levelling victory over the West Indies after proving he is still more than capable of backing up big words with big performances.

Broad generated a slew of headlines after he was left out of last week's defeat in Southampton, describing his frustration and anger at being sidelined, and ended that television interview with another observation.

"When I get that opportunity again you can bet that I will be on the money," he said at the time.

For two sessions on day four of the second Test at Emirates Old Trafford it seemed the 34-year-old had over-promised, wicketless for 19 overs as the West Indies went a long way towards their target of avoiding the follow-on.

But Broad electrified the game with a stunning new-ball spell after tea, claiming three wickets for one run in 14 deliveries to energise the hosts.

The Windies did force England to bat again but the hosts will start day five 219 ahead on 37 for two, eyeing quick runs before turning the job back over to the bowling attack.

And Broad will not need asking twice to play his part.

Jos Buttler is bowled out by Kemar Roach (Michael Steele/NMC Pool)

"I haven't felt like I wanted to prove a point. I don't think there's any point to prove," he said after stumps.

"I genuinely didn't feel like I had to prove anyone wrong. I've done all that talking on the field, but I felt quietly – or maybe not that quietly – that when I got the chance again I needed to be in the best place to perform.

"I bet everybody thought walking into tea it was a bore draw, this game was going nowhere...then something sparked into life after tea. I really enjoyed that spell, that's where I'm at my best, when it's time to make something happen and there's encouragement from the pitch.

"It would have been great to enforce the follow-on and we probably left ourselves too much to do but we certainly made that second new ball talk and that's encouragement for us. It really makes us want two new balls if we possibly can. If we get 85 overs at them, that would be dream world really."

There is a job ahead of Ben Stokes and Joe Root first of all. The job of swiftly bolstering the total against the likes of Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel is easier said than done, as Jos Buttler found to his cost when he perished for a duck atop a hastily revamped batting card.

Broad, though, was already plotting what promises to be an enthralling fourth innings.

"I think we want a minimum of 270, that will end up a brilliant game," he forecast.

"We should be able to defend 270 on this pitch but they are dangerous players. We want to make this series 1-1 as quick as we can and with the time that has gone out of the game because of weather, we might have to take a risk.

"It's going to be a great Test match. I think we will dangle a carrot and all results will be possible, but we'll have to bowl pretty badly to lose it."

amp_article__407199 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-07-19 20:58:54:
html db last update - 2020-07-19 20:58:54 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Stuart Broad

Click here for more stories about England

Share this article now:
Read more about Stuart Broad Cricket
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .