Stuart Broad says that his spell of 6-17 at The Wanderers in 2016 means more to him then his figures of 8-15 against Australia in the 2015 Ashes at Trent Bridge.

The right-arm seamer has developed a habit for turning a series in a spell, something that both those performances did. Against South Africa, England led 1-0 in the four-match series, with The Wanderers match the third Test of the series. The tourists secured a 10-run lead, and with the game on a knife edge, Broad claimed 6-17 to skittle the hosts for 83, leaving England with a small chase to seal the rubber.

Against Australia, England again needed a win to secure the series, and Broad’s opening spell on the first morning effectively did the job all on its own, running through the Michael Clarke-led team for 60, with Broad’s figures the best in Test cricket by a seamer since Devon Malcolm’s 9-57 against South Africa at The Oval in 1994.

Speaking to long-time new-ball partner James Anderson on an Instagram Live on the England Cricket Instagram account, Broad conceded that the Ashes winning spell was more memorable, but said the Wanderers performance meant more to him because it came in conditions not totally stacked in his favour.

“I think my favourite spell… my most memorable spell, because it was at my home ground at Trent Bridge, and it was in a weekend that we retained [regained] the Ashes in 2015 was the 8-15, the first morning of the fourth Test,” he said. “I probably look back at The Wanderers in Johannesburg against South Africa in 2016 as a spell that means a little bit more to me because wickets abroad are harder to come by because they’re in conditions that you’re not grown up on. The Wanderers, you just feel like you’re in South Africa’s backyard properly.

There have been worse mornings…pic.twitter.com/XdzYWF4nWG — Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 23, 2020

“Everything at Trent Bridge was set for me. I’ve bowled thousands of overs there, I’m so used to the ground, I’m staying at home, I feel comfortable, I know everyone in the ground, the conditions were perfectly suited for bowling seam that morning. Whereas The Wanderers was intimidating, feisty, packed out, the game was on the line. Those wickets and bowling South Africa out cheaply to seal the series there probably gives me the most satisfaction looking back on.”