The twilight period of Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson’s bowling careers

[Robert]

With two seaming wickets to come, this could be a swan song for Jimmy.

 

[Saj]

Sometimes they don't have to be at their best to trouble the opposition.

Their reputation and achievements will always be on the mind of opposition batters and can lead to mistakes.

Both are still very skilled and dangerous opponents.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Jimmy in particular has done a good job recently and Broad dragged England back into the game with his spell yesterday.

But lets be realistic - its not a healthy place for a cricket side to be in if your best bowlers are past the traditional retirement age.

It was absolutely the right thing to do to drop them for the Windies series and this home summer should be their last.

The only thing in favour of prolonging their careers is that the other bowlers are either rubbish or injured.

 

[RexRex]

With two seaming wickets to come, this could be a swan song for Jimmy.

Swan song so soon after returning back to action ? No way. He is not going anywhere until atleast the 2023 Ashes in England.

Anderson seems like the kind of guy who has nothing else going on in his life except cricket as a burning passion so I think he'll want to stay on.

 

[James]

With two seaming wickets to come, this could be a swan song for Jimmy.

I would politely ask, why? He’s still bowling superbly.

Also — “if” we did not have a fast bowler injury list the length of an Accident & Emergency Room patient database, I would understand why it might be time for both Jimmy and England to call time & to arrange a testimonial…

“but” as it happens our stocks are really light, and we genuinely need him at the moment.

 

[James]

Broad’s “team hat trick” was one of those classic Stuart Broad overs where he steps up to the plate in a hopeless situation and drags the team by the scruff of the neck into doing something special.

 

[Robert]

Swan song so soon after returning back to action ? No way. He is not going anywhere until atleast the 2023 Ashes in England.

Anderson seems like the kind of guy who has nothing else going on in his life except cricket as a burning passion so I think he'll want to stay on.

I would only bowl him on a seamer now. He showed against India and Australia that he can’t come back in the second dig any more. He’s tidy but doesn’t take wickets.

 

[Robert]

I would politely ask, why? He’s still bowling superbly.

Also — “if” we did not have a fast bowler injury list the length of an Accident & Emergency Room patient database, I would understand why it might be time for both Jimmy and England to call time & to arrange a testimonial…

“but” as it happens our stocks are really light, and we genuinely need him at the moment.

See my previous post. He will be rendered powerless on a flat wicket under sunshine.

 

[MenInG]

James Anderson and Stuart Broad will be selected for England's 2023 Ashes squad against Australia, says head coach Brendon McCullum.

England's all-time leading Test wicket-takers were controversially dropped for the tour of West Indies in March.

But Anderson, 40, and Broad, 36, impressed on their international return as England won six of their seven Tests this summer.

"Yeah, they'll be here," said McCullum. "Those guys are phenomenal cricketers.

"They are quite incredible humans. They could finish any time they wanted and they'd still be considered greats of the game.

"What they're doing is continuing to build on the legacy they're going to leave for the next generation.

He added: "The time they're giving other people in the dressing-room is phenomenal.

"The time, the effort and the confidence they're giving the other guys is quite remarkable."

Anderson claimed 27 Test wickets at an average of 17.66 for England this summer, while fellow seamer Broad took 29 wickets at 27.17.

Between them the prolific pair have taken 1,233 Test wickets during their distinguished international careers. Anderson leads the way with 667 and Broad with 566.

Anderson is also England's most-capped Test cricketer with 175 appearances for his country.

Meanwhile, England have added former Australia batter Michael Hussey and ex-bowling coach David Saker to their backroom staff for the Twenty20 World Cup.

BBC

 

[Ab Fan]

Where are the other England bowlers, haven't seen them at international level from many years- Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood etc?

 

[Robert]

Where are the other England bowlers, haven't seen them at international level from many years- Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood etc?

All injured. As are Mahmood and Stone.

Robinson has come through through, and taken the new ball from Broad, which is all to the good.

 

[MenInG]

Stuart Broad believes being left out of England's tour of West Indies last year saved his Test career.

Broad and long-time new-ball partner James Anderson were omitted for a series played on dead pitches which England lost 1-0.

After he and Anderson were recalled, Broad was England's leading wicket-taker in the home summer.

"I don't think it was designed like that by the selectors but I count myself as pretty lucky," said Broad.

Speaking before England's two-Test series against New Zealand gets under way in Mount Maunganui on Thursday (01:00 GMT), Broad added: "If I had gone there on those pitches I'm not sure I'd be here now. Arguably that decision saved my career.

"Looking back a year I would not have chosen to miss the Caribbean but it was a good thing that has happened for me."

Broad and Anderson were left out almost exactly a year ago in the aftermath of the 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia, which saw coach Chris Silverwood and director of cricket Ashley Giles sacked.

A revamped squad was chosen for West Indies as part of interim managing director Andrew Strauss' "red-ball reset", but the loss in the Caribbean extended England's run of poor form to one win in 17 Tests and prompted Joe Root's resignation as captain.

New director of cricket Rob Key installed Ben Stokes as skipper and Brendon McCullum as coach, sparking a spectacular revival that has seen England win nine of their past 10 Tests.

In that time, no bowler in the world has more wickets than 40-year-old Anderson, while Broad would be higher than fourth on that list if he had not missed the tour of Pakistan in December following the birth of his daughter Annabella.

Despite not featuring in England's historic 3-0 series win, Broad feels like he deserves to reclaim his place for day-night series opener against the Black Caps.

"I was the leading wicket-taker in the summer and if I'd have gone on the two tours I missed I would have ended up the leading wicket-taker in the world last year," Broad told BBC Sport.

"I'm doing a role that's asked of me from Baz and Stokesy and I've been a part of a lot of winning Test matches in the past year."

At the age of 36, Broad would not be drawn on his long-term future, saying it is "tiring to look too far ahead", but he does not think the trip to New Zealand will be his final tour as an England player.

And, after a 159-match career in which he has taken 566 wickets, the Nottinghamshire man said he is finding playing for England "addictive" because of the swashbuckling style championed by Stokes and McCullum.

"You just don't know what's going to happen," said Broad. "You're drawn to it. You want to watch it.

"There are times we have to soak up pressure, but there are times when the guys play with such freedom.

"You don't want to miss one of Joe Root's reverse-scoops or Harry Brook's slap over mid-wicket for six. You want to see it. It's really addictive to be a part of."

BBC

 

[Amjid Javed]

Atleast broad has seen sense and retired at the right time and was still doing well.

Anderson looked like a Club level bowler all Ashes series but still wants to carry on playing.

 

[Savak]

Atleast broad has seen sense and retired at the right time and was still doing well.

Anderson looked like a Club level bowler all Ashes series but still wants to carry on playing.

There is no way the English Selectors can justify Anderson's selection. He is the main reason why England did not end up on the winning side in this ashes and a golden opportunity was lost. He didn't step and take crucial wickets when it really mattered. It is selfish of him to linger on for 700 test wickets.

 

[Amjid Javed]

There is no way the English Selectors can justify Anderson's selection. He is the main reason why England did not end up on the winning side in this ashes and a golden opportunity was lost. He didn't step and take crucial wickets when it really mattered. It is selfish of him to linger on for 700 test wickets.

Anderson playing on gives me kapil Dev vibes, like you say what exactly has he done lately to stay in team. Both Broad and moeen performed and they gracefully retired. I think England instance of playing both Anderson and Broad together at start of series was one of reasons England's bowling was toothless and they went 2-0 down. Tounge and potts are better options now then Anderson.

 

[Saj]

What can you say about Broad.

Watching him bowling in that last Test match, he was still troubling the batters, charging in and bowling at a good pace.

He hasn't chased the dollar during his career and that showed.

He is still good enough to be picked for England in Test cricket which just shows how good he is and how well he has managed his career.

 

[Amjid Javed]

What can you say about Broad.

Watching him bowling in that last Test match, he was still troubling the batters, charging in and bowling at a good pace.

He hasn't chased the dollar during his career and that showed.

He is still good enough to be picked for England in Test cricket which just shows how good he is and how well he has managed his career.

Yeah broad was still performing to a high level so goes out at right time, Anderson just selfishly playing on and looking like a club bowler and offering nothing to the team now.

 

[Savak]

What can you say about Broad.

Watching him bowling in that last Test match, he was still troubling the batters, charging in and bowling at a good pace.

He hasn't chased the dollar during his career and that showed.

He is still good enough to be picked for England in Test cricket which just shows how good he is and how well he has managed his career.

The ECB look after their players. I believe Broad and Anderson are on 1,000,000 pounds annual retainer with the ECB which has played a major role in these players wanting to avoid going the T-20 route.

 

[The_KING]

What a brilliant end to Broad's career. That is how every sportsperson dreams wants to ride off into the sunset. He retired on a high, which is something that every rarely happens. Great end to a great career.

 

[James]

Perfect conclusion to his career for Broad with the Oval match. He’s still capable of bowling world class spells and good enough to get selected for England, but has gracefully stepped aside. Fair play to him.

I think Broad will also be happy that he managed to correct his batting a bit towards the end and had a couple of good Bazball knocks.

Anderson meanwhile has missed an opportunity here. I think he’s cooked and he had an incredibly poor series, but that would all have been forgotten about if he had done the decent thing and walked off the pitch into the sunset with Broad and Moeen Ali.

Anderson will now get an awkward “you’re done” sort of tap on the shoulder retirement when he is told to go and is about to get dropped lest he announces his exit, which is nowhere near as picturesque an ending as he could have engineered for himself.