Stuart Broad is adamant the England attack are sufficiently versatile
to take wickets in Australian conditions when they defend the Ashes in Australia later this year.
Broad and the rest of the England
quicks have been enjoying themselves in the largely swing friendly
conditions that have prevailed during their ongoing series with
Pakistan, as indeed have the tourists’ seamers.
Fast bowler and
handy lower-order batsman Broad has so far taken 11 wickets in a series
England lead 2-1, ahead of this week’s finale at Lord’s, and swing
specialist James Anderson has been even more successful, with 20
wickets.
But on England’s last tour of Australia, in 2006/07,
they were thrashed 5-0 in the Test series with Anderson’s five wickets
coming at a hugely expensive average of more than 82 apiece.
Pakistan
captain Salman Butt, speaking after a four-wicket win at The Oval that
cut England’s series lead, questioned whether England’s bowlers would
succeed in Australia.
But Broad insisted: “We have no fear going
to Australia, and we certainly have the skills necessary to go and win
the Ashes over there
“We are very confident in our attack,”
added Broad, whose father Chris, an opening batsman, was a member of
the last England side to win a Test series in Australia back in 1986/87.
Australia
captain Ricky Ponting believes his side have it in them to inflict
another 5-0 humiliation upon England but the 24-year-old Broad said:
“We are all very confident in what we do,” he said.
“We have the best spinner in the world in Graeme Swann, and some very skillful seamers too.
“Everyone
will have an opinion on the Ashes, because it is such a huge series.
But what opposition players and opposition captains say has no impact
on us and what we are going to do.”
England have added Yorkshire
seamer Tim Bresnan to the XI that played at The Oval for the fourth
Test, starting at Lord’s on Thursday
“Tim has been with us
throughout the whole series, pushing for a place,” Broad said. “It does
not change the mindset for any of us.
“It doesn’t add any more pressure – because you always put yourself under pressure as an international player.
“That is what you do to try to come up with good performances.”
– AFP ej
