STUART Broad laid down an important
marker for his extended
inclusion in England's Test plans
with a long and sustained spell of
hostile bowling to upset New
Zealand in the deciding Test.
Broad, son of former England
opener Chris, has learnt all about
the art of aggression from his famous
father and, even at 21 and
playing in only his third Test, he
is not afraid to use it to his advantage.
It was that hostility, staring
down opener Matthew Bell shortly
before tea on the fourth day at
McLean Park, which proved the
catalyst for an important burst of
wickets as the tourists chase
their first overseas Test series triumph
in three years.
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Bell and former captain
Stephen Fleming, who had been
given a guard of honour by England
as he walked out to play his
final Test innings, were defying
the tourists' best efforts at that
stage, chasing an unlikely victory
target of 553.
They had successfully frustrated
England for 30 overs and
forged a 99-run stand when Broad
upset Bell and prompted Fleming
to urge umpire Rudi Koertzen to
intervene before took up the matter
again with captain Michael
Vaughan as they left the field on
146 for one at tea.
Whatever was said apparently
worked with Bell's three hours of
defiance ending three balls after
the interval when he mis-timed a
pull off left-arm spinner Monty
Panesar to Broad in the deep.
Fleming followed three overs
later as New Zealand lost four
wickets in the final session to finish
on 222 for five.
Broad refused to reveal the details
of the row, but admitted:
I'm not really a talker, I just tend
to stare and batsmen don't seem
to like it and chunter away.
It's part of being a bowler really,
you've got to try and make
the batsman uncomfortable -
you're not just there to give them
a hit. You've got to get them out
of their bubble and a little stare
here and there can't go amiss.''
Fleming, who edged Panesar
behind attempting to cut, also refused
to break the dressing room
code of silence by revealing the
details, but admitted Broad has
got a bit about him, which is
good in a young player.''
That episode would certainly
not have done Broad any harm
when England come to pick their
line-up for the opening Test
against New Zealand at Lord's on
May 15 as he attempts to fight off
the claims of Matthew Hoggard
and Steve Harmison for a recall.
Broad will also have enhanced
his claims by demonstrating his
great stamina once again with an
unbroken 14-over spell either side
of tea to claim two for 28 and help
Panesar strengthen England's
grip.
Panesar struck initially to remove
opener Jamie How lbw
shortly after lunch and made the
key breakthrough immediately
after tea.
Fleming fell soon after later for
a superb 66, which ensured he
finished his career with an average
over 40 but for the 46th time
in 111 Tests he had been unable
to convert it into a major innings
and finished with only nine centuries.
I walked off frustrated which
has happened 50 or 60 times in
my career and I did have a wry
smile to myself that it was probably
a fitting way to go,'' said
Fleming.
If I'd have made a hundred it
would have been an anomaly. I'm
disappointed but when I take
time to reflect I guess I'm satisfied
to have a four in front of my
average.''
With Ryan Sidebottom struggling
following his Herculean efforts
previously in this Test and
the series, it was left to Broad to
make further inroads and he
used slower balls and changes of
angles on the crease before the
shorter ball earned him his reward.
Bowling in tandem with Panesar
to create pressure, Mathew
Sinclair could only fend a bouncer
behind to wicketkeeper Tim
Ambrose while Grant Elliott attempted
to pull and looped the
ball up for Ian Bell to run and
take the catch from short leg.
It was an important Test
match fro the team and me personally
to try and get a spot in
the summer and it was nice to
come in and contribute,'' admitted
Broad.
We discussed bowling in partnerships
and creating pressure
by bowling maidens and when
you do that in cricket, wickets
tend to come and things start to
happen and that was proved
again.
"The good thing about a long
spell is that when you hit a
rhythm you can just keep going
with that rhythm - you really get
a long chance to work out a batsman.'
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