Stuart Broad has spoken publicly for the first time since causing a Twitter storm with comments about the minimum wage, saying they were “innocent” and apologising for any offence.

The England bowler, in Perth preparing for Friday’s winner-takes-all Tri-Series game against India, had tweeted: “I’ve heard if you earn minimum wage in England you’re in the top 10% earners in the world. #stay #humble.”

Broad’s comments caused outrage on social media and by Wednesday morning, he had deleted the post and followed up with an apology via two tweets. He said: “Clarifying my earlier tweet, I merely wanted to emphasise my amazement at just how big the world is.

“No offence meant and sorry if any taken. The hashtag was aimed at myself.”

Stuart Broad tells those on minimum wage to ‘stay humble’ Read more

He then followed that up when he was put up for media duties by England on Wednesday following a gruelling practice session at the Waca. He said: “I’m genuinely fascinated by the size of the world, you could see that when you saw my tweets clarifying my position. I didn’t mean to offend anyone. It was genuinely innocent.”

Piers Morgan, who has been a social media cheerleader for sacked England batsman Kevin Pietersen, tweeted: “Great irony of Stuart Broad’s comment is that he’s never stayed humble in his life. Makes KP [Kevin Pietersen] look like Mother Teresa in humility stakes.”

It has been interpreted here in Perth that Broad had been making a subtle reference to Pietersen’s recent comments when he called for changes to the domestic structure in England and said that “muppets who earn £15 to £18 grand in county cricket should work harder or go and do something else”.

However, Broad, whose earnings from his England central contract and sponsorship deals are thought to exceed £1million a year, denied that, insisting: “To back him up a bit he does use that word [muppet] about himself sometimes,” Broad said of Pietersen. “But the development role in the county game is very important. No-one’s going to come in and start on big wages.

“You have to earn your stripes. I think that figure Kevin used is a bit below the minimum earned anyway so it was a bit off the mark. I don’t think he meant any offence by it. It was just a little bit misguided I think.”

Broad was happier to talk about his own fitness, the Nottinghamshire bowler feeling he is close to his best after knee surgery last September.



“The knee’s feeling really good,” he said. “It was quite a long lay off, four months without cricket, so it does take a bit of time to get up to match speed. I’m enjoying playing and I feel like I’m getting better with every ball I bowl. Hopefully I can peak for what is our semi-final on Friday.



“I feel like the ball’s coming out okay but I’ve bowled a couple of soft boundary balls in the matches I’ve played so far which has disappointed me. I think the more match sharpness you get they are cut out of your game. I can go through periods when I don’t get many wickets then I get a chunk of them so hopefully it will be my turn at the weekend.”