England fast bowler Stuart Broad is determined to win the ongoing Ashes Test series against Australia at Manchester’s Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
In a column for Mail Sport, the cricketer wrote: “We need a bit of luck from the Manchester weather gods. We need another window open to get the job done.”
Broad hoped for favorable weather conditions, as he believed the win would be deemed “unfair” due to rain.
“Sitting in the living room watching yesterday’s rain, there was definitely a sense that it would be unfair if the weather was decisive,” he said.
The fast bowler said that although he does not play for milestones, this win will make his 600th wicket even more special. The 37-year-old joined the 600-wicket club on the first day of the ongoing fourth Ashes Test.
Broad told how team coach and former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum came up with a phrase to keep the team’s morale high.
“We were supposed to play a bit of golf on Tuesday and the forecast was terrible, but he said to me: ‘Boss, we’re lucky to get wet’. Guess what? It rained a lot less than we thought,” Broad said.
The fast bowler mentioned that he never felt the momentum to drop the team in the series despite Australia’s victory at Edgbaston and added that the English cricketers played exceptionally well, declared on the first day, bowled Australia, and tried to set up the game for the result.
Although Australia were victorious at Lord’s, Broad did not feel the momentum was entirely with the team, as Ben Stokes’ 155 in the second Test gave them a boost.
Coming within 43 runs created a do-or-die situation, the English bowler acknowledged the team’s impressive performance at Headingley and the need for precision in the early days of the ongoing match.
Broad expressed his desire for a 2-2 scoreline, which would tie the series as he hoped. The fast bowler had previously mentioned his desire to reach the Oval with a 2-2 scoreline, and that he “really wanted it”.
