Stuart Broad considers the recent Ashes series is closest he has played in and feels the momentum has shifted in England’s favour following Ben Stokes’ heroics in Headingley.
Australia were just 1 wicket away from keeping the urn, as the holders, if together with the hosts still needing a 73 runs, Jack Leach strode to the crease to join Stokes.
However the England all-rounder’s well-documented exceptional unbeaten century not just directed Joe Root’s side to some series-levelling victory but also place them in the driving seat to the last two Tests, according to Broad.
The fourth game at Old Trafford is live on Sky Sports The Ashes from 10am on Wednesday, September 4, also before it Broad stated:”Australia would have 99 percent thought they were planning to keep the Ashes with 70-odd runs still needed,” he explained. “Stokes along with Leach’s last-wicket partnership was among the biggest that English cricket has ever seen and Australia needed a very bad hour.
“They’ll reflect on this and believe that they got many things wrong. The endings of that Test match shifted to England and with that the set.
“England and Australia both did a great deal of brilliant things because Test match and I really don’t think I have ever played an Ashes that has been as closely matched man-to-man as this series.
“The teams are so close and you can see that from the temptations being thrown by each side and the way they’re soaking this up. It’s a fun series to participate in.”
Meanwhile, Broad is currently looking forward to visiting the return of Steve Smith, who missed the third Test after being attacked by a bouncer by Jofra Archer .
The batsman created dozens of 92 and 144, 142 before he was made to sit out his side’s second innings at the house of Cricket with concussion.
“We have not bowled at him because Lord’s,” Broad added. “He has had a period of time not batting in the middle, and it can be a bonus for us. It is great to get him back. No one wants to see anybody miss cricket through head injuries.
“Whenever a batsman seems in good rhythm, a time period out of being in the midst could affect them. But he’s a world-class batsman, he will be ready for the conditions he will confront here at Old Trafford.
“I think there’s been a tiny bit of to-and-fro involving him and Jofra, also Jofra is going to be excited to continue that battle. Smith will probably be very hungry to come back into a vital Test game.”
As the most senior member of the attack, Broad has stepped up in the absence of James Anderson, who was ruled out having a calf injury for the remainder of the series.
And, though Anderson’s harm has some quarters if England’s leading will consider hanging up his boots, questioning , Broad finds his strike partner’s continuing work as proof that he will come.
“He’s obviously very disappointed,” Broad explained. “He has put his heart and soul into getting back to full fitnesscenter. When he hurt his calf 10, This was early June. He got back fit for the game and that did not really work out just how he wanted.
“I had in my mind that it was almost written in the stars he would come back (for the second Test at Old Trafford) and start the bowling at the James Anderson End and bowl us to success.
“That’s not going to take place, but he has obviously got a great deal of cricket left in him he must get that calf right since it is a long-winded H injury, two or three weeks worth of crab niggle that he might want to eliminate.”
Watch day one of the fourth Ashes Test reside on Sky Sports The Ashes September 4, from 10am on Wednesday
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