Stuart Broad 'astonished' by tampering charges

Stuart Broad and James Anderson, the two England bowlers at the centre of the recent ball-tampering controversy, have steadfastly defended their actions during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

TV pictures showed Broad standing on the ball while Anderson was seen picking at the leather which led South Africa to "raise concerns" about the condition of the ball. However, the home side didn't take their complaint forward to official levels which prompted Andrew Strauss to call it "malicious" and England coach Andy Flower said if they'd had a problem it should have been raised in the formal way.

Broad has now said he took "great offence" at being implicated by the South Africans and wasn't impressed with the way they announced their concerns through a press conference.

"I find it astonishing that South Africa should walk into a press conference and say they had raised concerns about the condition of the ball and then not follow that up by making a formal complaint. That is very poor behaviour," he told the Daily Mail

"My actions in stopping the ball with my boot have been questioned but I am not the first bowler to stop a ball with his size 12s and I will not be the last.

"It was close to 40 degrees Celsius out there in Newlands at the time, and, if I was guilty of anything, it was just laziness in not bending down to pick up the ball. Ball-tampering? That's astonishing."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was critical of England's part in the controversy, but Anderson is disappointed that he wasn't more supportive of players he led until 18 months ago. Anderson said he and Broad were nothing more than "a bit absent-minded and lazy."

"To be caught up in suggestions of ball-tampering was a huge disappointment," he told the Daily Mirror. "It led to a lot of comment and cast a shadow over me and Stuart Broad when we'd done nothing wrong except be a bit absent-minded and lazy.

"I know my old England captain Michael Vaughan is entitled to his opinion but I was a little bit hurt by some of the comments he made about me, because I'd like to think he knew me well enough to know I wouldn't do something like that.

"I've got a lot of respect for Vaughany as a team-mate and as a captain and I learnt an awful lot under his wing in the England side so he knows the sort of player I am."

South Africa's concerns over the ball stemmed from the fact that England have managed to find early reverse-swing during this series - often by the 15th over - while the hosts haven't had the same success. However, Broad said that instead of casting doubts over what the bowlers are doing they should be praised for their skill.

"Not too long ago, people were asking why English bowlers could not take wickets overseas on flat pitches with the old ball," he said, "but what someone like Jimmy has done is become highly skilled at the difficult art of reverse-swing and all people can do is question that."

Broad relishing England return

Stuart Broad is impatient to make up for lost time as he targets a winning return from injury for England against South Africa.

The fast bowler injured his shoulder fielding in the first match of England’s tour at Bloemfontein almost three weeks ago - and has since had to sit out two Twenty20s and a one-day international.

A drawn Twenty20 series was followed in his absence by England going 1-0 up with three to play in the ODIs, starting at Newlands on Friday.

For Broad, man of the match in England’s Ashes-clinching victory at the Brit Oval three months ago, it has been an aggravating false start to the winter.

But he was relieved to discover his shoulder problem was not long term.

“I’ve been bowling for three or four days now, feel fully fit - and I’m excited about potentially taking some wickets again.”

Right up there on Broad’s wish-list is to renew his pace-bowling partnership with James Anderson.

“We’ve missed a bit of cricket since the Ashes together,” he said.

“He’s been rested, and I’ve been rested on occasions. I’m looking forward to getting back in the middle with him. He’s been bowling well, as has the whole unit.”

One man who may yet have to wait a few more days to return to the team, however, is off-spinner Graeme Swann - who took part, along with Broad, in the middle practice but is not yet certain to be fit in time for the third ODI.

“I’m not sure about Swanny’s fitness. He’s having a bowl, testing it out,” Broad reported.

“We’d like him to be fit for the game. But we’ve got to make sure he’s right before we risk him.”

Without Swann and Broad, England kickstarted their campaign with an impressive seven-wicket win at Centurion last weekend - after a washout at The Wanderers - and Broad has seen much from emerging stars like Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan to be confident of further success.

Asked about the contributions made by some of the least experienced members of the touring party, Broad added: “I think that’s crucial with any sports team, and Eoin Morgan has really shone on this tour so far - and let’s hope that can continue for these last three games.

“Then there is Jonathan Trott. You sometimes forget how little international cricket he’s played, with the way he’s performed - a hundred on Ashes debut, and he’s been batting fantastically in these Twenty20s and one-dayers as well.

“It’s about players taking responsibility really. It’s important you don’t rely on certain individuals to make the runs and take the wickets. That’s why we’re in a good place as a team - because everyone is ’putting in’ on different days.

“We had some strong performances in the Champions Trophy when we came out here. We were disappointed to lose in the semi-final, because we’d played some good cricket till then.”

Standing in England’s way, among others, is South Africa’s batting all-rounder JP Duminy - and he made it no secret that he sees Broad as someone the hosts can try to target.

South Africa are chastened by their unexpectedly heavy defeat, and Duminy admitted: “I guess it was a bit of a shock. Leading up to the weekend, we didn’t expect to get such a beating."

He is confident of a telling response, though - and, on Broad, added: “With him not playing over the last couple of weeks, he will probably be a little low on confidence.

“It is definitely a tactic to think about, to go out to attack him.”

Broad, however, said: “I see that as a positive. They’re coming harder at you, and it gives you a better chance of finding the edge or taking wickets.

“You might have to accept you go for a few more runs. But if you’re bowling them out, you’re happy.”

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Warne: Broad not an international all-rounder

Former Australia spinner Shane Warne has advised England not to promote Stuart Broad too high up the batting order, claiming the 23-year-old is "not an international all-rounder".

The Nottinghamshire player was last week named in England's Test and one-day squads for the winter tour of South Africa, but Warne believes expecting too much from the Ashes hero could be counter-productive.

He wrote in his column in The Times: "If England want to ruin Stuart Broad, it strikes me that they may be going the right way about it.

"Somebody tell me that he won't bat at number seven for the Test series in South Africa. Looking at the squad announced last week, it looks as if the selectors may be leaning that way, when it could be the worst thing to happen to the guy.

"I'm not bagging Broad, because he has the makings of being a good player. He is a decent bowler and a reasonable batsman - just not an international all-rounder.

"By thinking that he is, England risk taking his focus away from what he is learning to do well, first and foremost to support frontline bowlers, then to chip in with runs."

Warne also labelled the selection of Luke Wright for the tour as "strange".

"If he is going for experience then fine, because at 24 he is still young and might offer something down the track," wrote the 40-year-old.

"At the moment he is a bits-and-pieces player who is not worth his place with either bat or ball. To move forward he needs to bat at number five and bowl first change regularly for Sussex."

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Broad shoulders all-round responsibility

Stuart Broad showed that Andrew Flintoff might not be such a huge loss to the Test team after putting England on course for Ashes glory.

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Broad claimed five for 37, including the first four wickets to fall, to upstage Flintoff on the second day at the Oval.

"Freddie's been a fantastic cricketer"
County colleague Graeme Swann chipped in with four wickets of his own as Australia crashed to 160 all out.

This match was set up for something special from 31-year-old Flintoff but it is his natural successor who has developed English momentum heading into day three.
England will resume on Saturday on 58 for three, an overall lead of 230, with captain Andrew Strauss unbeaten on 32.

"Freddie's been a fantastic cricketer for many, many years," said Broad, now comfortably England's leading wicket-taker in the series with 17. "If I can be half as good as he's been I'll be very pleased.

"Certainly England are going to need a replacement in Test cricket to bat number seven and bowl a bit and I've batted seven in a couple of Tests.
"My batting will need to improve to do that on a long-term basis, but I believe I can develop with hard work."

Broad savours 'special day'
At 23, Broad now has three Test five-wicket hauls to his name - the same as 31-year-old Flintoff.

And the crowd reaction to Broad's efforts with the ball was reminiscent of the reception the Lancashire man has received in his finest hours during a 79-Test career.

"It was as special as you can get as a cricketer - going down to fine-leg with everyone on their feet and clapping," admitted Broad.
"The English fans have been fantastic throughout this series. We hope we can repay them, and win the Ashes. There is a lot of time left, so we don't need to chase the game."

Australia were well positioned at 66 without loss when Broad was introduced from the Vauxhall end and struck with his sixth ball to begin a terminal decline of 10 wickets for 87 runs."

"The game is far from over"
Much has been made of the deterioration in the pitch but Australia opener Simon Katich, who top-scored with 50, insisted: "Broad bowled well and his spell cracked the game right open.

"He changed his pace well and swung the ball both ways. The crowd got involved and it was hard to stop that momentum.

"I guess there will be a fair bit said about the wicket but there weren't really a lot of balls that disturbed the surface.

"The bottom line is England got the momentum and after the initial partnership we just couldn't string another one together.

"There is still a fair bit of work to do but obviously we have got to keep fighting hard.

"We know it's going to be tough work. Whenever you bat last in a Test match you understand that. You assume the wicket will get worse but as we saw at Lord's it might slow up, who knows?

"The game is far from over, as we showed by taking three late wickets. There is an Ashes up for grabs, so hopefully we can pull off something special."

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