Stuart Broad went from holidaying with Michael Vaughan in Western Australia two weeks ago to seeing his place in the Test side queried by the former England captain.

However, after conceding his wicketless display in the Ashes-sealing defeat in Perth was not as competitive as it should have been – and offering a four-wicket response in Melbourne – the fast bowler will not hold grudges against the man under whom he won his first cap 10 years ago.

Vaughan had been one of the most vocal critics of Broad after the urn changed hands at the Waca, stating that Joe Root should consider dropping England’s second-highest wicket-taker for the dead-rubber fourth Test and break up his longstanding partnership with Jimmy Anderson.

Career-worst figures of none for 142 fuelled this call but after avoiding the news during the festive period, working on the mental side of his game with Paul Collingwood, the assistant coach, and putting in some additional hard yards in the lead-up, Broad’s four for 51 amid Australia’s second-day collapse – his best figures in a tough 2017 – provided a reply to the criticism.

“It was one of those weeks where you get your tin hat on and duck down,” said Broad, who had gone 69 overs between wickets before removing Usman Khawaja on day one. “You have to go to that place as a sportsman, find something within yourself, get support from people around you and build yourself back up. You can get yourself in a dark place if you read everything.

“It is only two weeks since I was on holiday with him [Vaughan, between the second and third Test]. I don’t know what he’s been saying. I think people just do their jobs and have to be critical at times. I won’t hold any grudges if people slag me off. In 15 years’ time I might be doing the same.”

Broad was not the only senior player with a point to prove. Alastair Cook’s impressive unbeaten 104, while similarly coming too late to change the destiny of this Ashes series, was his first against Australia for almost seven years and ended a run of 10 innings without passing 50 – the longest such stretch of his 151-cap career.

“He’s a calm character, doesn’t get fazed or down,” Broad said. “He went through so much stuff with his captaincy that I’m not sure a bit of stick about not getting runs is going to bother him. He is a very mentally strong guy and things were always going to go his way eventually.”

Broad personally stood up during the whitewashed series in 2013-14 with 21 wickets; a tour that led to the break-up of the side coached by Andy Flower as Jonathan Trott and Graeme Swann left Australia early and Kevin Pietersen had his England career ended in acrimonious fashion.

On the difference between then and now, Broad added: “The atmosphere is very good in the group. It’s very different timing. Four years ago it was an older group coming to the end of an amazing cycle. This is a new group and a new captain, all learning the ropes in Test cricket.

“Root is settling into captaincy. He has been busy with a lot of things that have gone on but it will help him because he will be England captain for a long time. It’s been a pretty tricky tour with some off-field nonsense but we have stuck together really well.”