Manchester: Stuart Broad said he can follow the example of longstanding new-ball colleague James Anderson by extending his international career into his late 30s after a three-wicket haul in the second Test against the West Indies at Old Trafford on Sunday (July 30) that kept England in the hunt for a series-levelling win.
Broad took three wickets for one run in 14 balls on the fourth day as West Indies were dismissed for 287 in reply to England’s first innings 469-9 declared.
Having failed to enforce the follow-on, England were 37-2 in their second innings at stumps, an overall lead of 219 heading into the final day of a match where there was no play on Saturday because of rain.
With England facing a schedule of six Tests in seven weeks, including three against Pakistan, Broad was rested from the opener against the West Indies at Southampton — a move he said during a mid-match interview that made him feel “frustrated, angry, gutted”.
England, despite Anderson leading their attack, lost by four wickets to fall 1-0 behind in a three-match series that marks world cricket’s return from the coronavirus lockdown.
Roles, however, have been reversed in Manchester even though the second Test is taking place at Anderson’s Lancashire home ground.
Broad is second only to Anderson in England’s list of all-time leading Test wicket-takers, with Sunday’s treble taking him to 488 in his 139th match compared to the Anderson’s 587 from 152.
