Hope I can play alongside James Anderson this summer, admits Stuart Broad

Ahead of the Test series against West Indies, the biggest question that surfaced in the English camp was whether they would pair Stuart Broad and James Anderson together. However, after the first two Tests, it has become clear that the management is unwilling to put their bet on the two pacers together in the playing XI. 

Broad, however, feels and hopes that he can play alongside his willy bowling partner, Anderson sometime during this summer. The duo together have destroyed several batting lineups in the past, with 1072 Test wickets between them for the Three Lions. In Southampton, England paired the duo of Mark Wood-Jofra Archer alongside Anderson. In the second, the 38-year-old was rested for a combination of Broad, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran. 

"It's such a unique summer with six Tests over six weeks that rotation will be necessary. We get put in a category together but we both perform well without each other and with each other. I want to play with Jimmy again and hope he feels the same. We complement each other and create a lot of pressure together. When our paths cross again might depend on workloads but I hope we play together this summer and would be surprised if we don’t,” Broad told reporters, reported TOI. 

However, like his bowling partner, the 34-year-old Broad revealed that if he maintains his fitness levels during his late 30s, he would continue to play in the longest format. 

"I'm hungry, my fitness levels are good. Why not try and emulate what Jimmy has done and play to his age? I feel I can. Today proved that again. When I set goals it makes me hungry to achieve them. Jimmy has taken around 130 Test wickets since he was my age, why can't I do the same?” he concluded.