Stuart Broad reveals English bowlers open to possibility of being rested

Given the warm summer in England, five Test matches in six weeks would be too much to ask from pace bowlers of both teams. England’s pace duo of James Anderson, who is England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, and Stuart Broad have both have proved their fitness in the recent round of County Championship matches.

While both the bowlers would not want to be rested, given the competitive nature of the series, there would be a possibility of them being given rest during the series. Broad revealed that there have already been talks of giving rest to manage the workload of the bowlers and added that they were prepared for the possibility.

“I think there has already been small conversations saying about, ‘Don’t be disheartened if you are left out for a Test match, it’s not a personal attack or dropping, it’s a management of your bowlers to make sure we give ourselves the best chance’,” Broad told reporters at The Oval as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Broad had a recurrence of ankle trouble prior to making his return for Nottinghamshire, while earlier this season Anderson took time out to manage a recurring problem in his right shoulder. Broad stated that the decision to play would depend on the amount of workload they endure during the Test matches. 

“I think will have to play that by ear -- it will depend on tosses, pitches, workloads. If (there are) two Tests of 250 overs in the field each, it’s unrealistic to think your seam bowlers will play five Tests in six weeks. But if you have a Test where you bowl them out in 80, 60 overs, that changes your thinking.”

Much to England’s joy, Broad had reported no pain after bowling 19 overs for Nottinghamshire against Surrey at Trent Bridge. He insisted that he was 100% fit going into the Test series against India. 

“I had no pain after the game,” he said. “I am going in (to this series) 100 percent fit and you can’t say that too often.”

India would likely have plenty of support, given the huge crowd support they received during the one-day series. There were even games when the Indian supporters outnumbered the English supporters. On being asked about the same, Broad said, “I don’t think I have ever felt overwhelmed by a opposition crowds in a home ground ... actually, maybe once at Lord’s during the 2009 World Twenty20, we got booed as walked on.”

“But I think it’s great a lot of Indian fans will support their team but we’ll get England fans as well. The one-day guys said their crowds were supporting India but they said they enjoyed the cricket, it wasn’t abusive to either side, so we’ll expect that in the Test as well,” he added.