Stuart Broad sought reassurances about his future in England's cricket team after feeling “frustrated, angry and gutted” for getting dropped for the first test against the West Indies.
The 34-year-old fast bowler, who has won 138 teat caps and sits second on the country’s all-time wickets list, was edged out of the team when England opted for a pace attack of James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in Southampton.
Broad had played the previous 51 home tests, dating back to 2012 when he was rested in a dead match, and finished as the team’s top wicket-taker in both the 2019 Ashes series and the away series in South Africa.
England's Stuart Broad, left, wears a disposable pair of gloves as a precaution against the coronavirus during the third day of the first cricket Test match between England and West Indies, at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England, Friday, July 10, 2020. (Mike HewittPool via AP)
“I’m not a particularly emotional person but I’ve found the last couple of days quite tough,” Broad said. "To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement — you get disappointed if you drop your phone and break your screen.
“I’ve been frustrated, angry and gutted because it’s quite a hard decision to understand. I’ve probably bowled the best I’ve ever bowled in the last couple of years. I felt like it was my shirt, having been in the team through the Ashes and going to South Africa and winning there.”
Broad said he was given “pretty positive feedback going forward” about his status in the squad after asking for clarification from national selector Ed Smith. England's stand-in captain, Ben Stokes, had previously told Broad that selectors were “going with extra pace” at the Rose Bowl.
England's Stuart Broad bowls during day three of a Warm Up match at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England, Friday July 3, 2020. England are scheduled to play West Indies in their first Test on July 8-12. (Stu ForsterAgency Pool via AP)
Broad acknowledged that England has unusually strong field of candidates in the pace department.
“We’re in quite a unique position this summer. Very rarely do you get all your bowlers fit like we’ve got at the minute and all your bowlers ready to go,” he said in an interview on Sky Sports.
“I felt like I deserved a spot in the team, like everyone else. Chris Woakes, Sam Curran were bowling really well and probably deserve to be in the XI, too. So it is hard to take but also I’m quite pleased I feel frustrated and feel gutted and angry because if I didn’t I’d have a different decision to make."
Stuart Broad, left, and Jofra Archer of England during a nets session at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England, Monday July 6, 2020. England are scheduled to play West Indies in their first Test match July 8 - 12. (Stu ForsterAgency Pool via AP)
Stokes has said England is likely to rotate the bowling lineup during the three-match series against the West Indies, with the second and third tests taking place in Manchester.
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