Quantcast

'I'm still getting better' declares Broad

Australia's Ashes nemesis is proving a thorn in South Africa's side in Durban

The bad news for opposition batsmen around the world is that Stuart Broad says he has only just reached his peak as a fast bowler.

You probably didn't need me – or Broad – to tell you that given the Englishman's exploits against Australia at Trent Bridge in the last Northern summer.

That haul of eight for 15 on the first morning of the fourth Test in Nottingham still feels like a dream sequence that is too preposterous to have actually occurred.

WATCH, if you dare: Australia lose 10 for 60

Yet occur it did and while Broad did not manage an eight-fer on the second day of this opening Test between South Africa and England in Durban, he threatened one of the hot streaks all-too familiar to Antipodean audiences to keep his side right in this match.

Broad fancies himself as a batsman, starting his career as an opener – just like his father Chris – before a growth spurt in his teenage years made fast-bowling a more viable career option.

However, he does possess a Test century, albeit in the Lord's Test against Pakistan in 2010 tainted by the spot-fixing of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif.

And the fact he came in at ten for England at Kingsmead shows the depth they now have in their batting order.

Broad started the day with a cavalier innings of 32 from 33 balls, helping take his side's first-innings total past 300 alongside No.11 batsman Steven Finn.

But the real work for Broad began with the ball, bowling Stiaan van Zyl with his second delivery of the match, cramping the South Africa opener by bowling round the wicket and suckering him into shouldering arms to a straight ball.

Hashim Amla, the home side's out-of-form captain, was Broad's next victim, edging behind to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow after being squared up by a ball that was just too good for him.

MATCH REPORT: Broad slices through Proteas

AB de Villiers was next up, the freakishly-talented force of nature made to look a mere mortal by a leg-cutter he nicked behind.

De Villiers doesn't like facing Broad, having now been dismissed by the Nottingham-born bowler eight times in Tests.

In all, Broad took 3-16 in 10 overs, not a bad return on a track that offered little assistance to seamers once the new ball had softened.

The 29-year-old is the leading seam bowler in the world this year with 54 wickets, although Josh Hazelwood was just three behind him heading into day three of the Melbourne Boxing Day Test between Australia and the West Indies.

And Broad admits he is now hitting his peak years. "I definitely feel like I've improved," he said. "I think probably the biggest thing that's helped my game is my improvement to left-handed batsmen.

Image Id: ~/media/3E621769438341CC99D138E5E81B8D41

Stiaan van Zyl is bowled shouldering arms by Broad // Getty

"Bowling round the wicket is quite a new thing for me. That's been a big development in my game and I have to thank Gibbo [England bowling coach Ottis Gibson] for helping me with that and pushing me to keep improving.

"Bowlers always say you're at your peak from 28 to 32 and I hope that's the case.

"I feel like I'm a bit more experienced, I know my game a bit more and it's important for me to have a good tour. South Africa's a great place to play cricket. You can score runs if you bat well but it's an exciting place to play as a bowler, you can get edges and create chances.

"It suits our team as we've got guys who like the game to move forward."

England will indeed hope to move this game forward on day three, the contest in the balance with South Africa on 134 for four in reply to their first-innings 303.

Runs will be crucial for Amla's men early on day three, but with Broad bowling at the peak of his powers Alastair Cook's side will hopeful they can take a stranglehold on this match.