STUART BROAD toasted a “fantastic toss to lose” after he authored India’s demise on day one of the fourth Investec Test.

Touring skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni ignored warning signs in the shape of morning drizzle and dank grey clouds at Emirates Old Trafford and opted to bat first.

Broad and James Anderson duly worked wonders with the new ball, reducing India to eight for four in a riotous opening burst and finishing the job for 152 after Dhoni counterpunched with 71.

Broad took the last four wickets in a single spell to return six for 25.

England moved to 113 for three by stumps, a handsome position heading into day two, but Broad conceded skipper Alastair Cook was fortunate at the toss.

“To be honest, when we lost the toss I was a bit disappointed because I thought it was a big one to win,” he said. “We got lucky with the overheads, it became quite cloudy and it felt quite heavy.

“It turned out to be a fantastic toss to lose because we would have batted.”

While Broad was happy to accept England had enjoyed a helping hand from mother nature, he did acknowledge at least some of the brilliance on display from himself and Anderson.

“We got lucky with the overheads but not with the skill we produced,” he said. “To put the ball in the right areas as often as we did was great, it swung nicely, we challenged the Indian batsmen on the front foot and we held out catches.

“That first hour was as good for bowling conditions as you get and it felt like every ball we could get a wicket.

I can’t remember playing in a Test where we’ve knocked over the top order like that, eight for four.

“They were all pretty decent balls as well, it’s not as if the batsman will be kicking themselves for playing poor shots.

“The top order didn’t get the chance to settle. The bouncer went through pretty well and it’s hard batting when you feel you can get hit on the head but it’s also swinging and bouncing from full length.”

Between them, Broad and Anderson are motoring up the country’s alltime wicket-takers list.

Broad’s efforts took him to sixth with 261 scalps, above his recently retired friend Graeme Swann, while Anderson sits second, just nine behind record holder Sir Ian Botham’s 383.

“I’ll drop him (Swann) a text tonight,” laughed Broad. “It’s always nice to move up the list and I’m sixth now. But it’s all eyes on Jimmy at the minute.

“He needs nine or ten to beat Beefy. That will be hugely exciting and I want to be around when that occurs. For him to be the first (English) bowler to 400 would be special.”

Broad is set for a knee operation in the coming weeks to finally cure his long-standing tendonitis.

He has been troubled by the condition in his right knee for over a year but has put off going under the knife.