COUNTERPUNCH

Vaughan's criticism was a shot in the dark - Broad

by Rob Johnston • Published on

Stuart Broad finished with 3 for 38 and was the pick of England's bowlers as they bundled Pakistan out for 174 © Getty

After taking three wickets on the first day of the second Test at Headingley, Stuart Broad said the criticism of him from former captain Michael Vaughan leading up to the game was a "shot in the dark" because "he doesn't know what the changing room is like".

Vaughan, who gave Broad his Test debut back in 2007, said on his BBC radio show that Broad or his fellow opening bowler James Anderson should be dropped following England's nine wicket reversal at Lord's last week. Vaughan thought an experienced player should make way to shake England up from a perceived cosiness and he followed it up with similar comments in his Telegraph newspaper column.

It is not the first time Vaughan has called for Broad to be dropped. He did so during the recent Ashes series when the fast-bowler was, by his own admission, struggling for form. Broad, however, said that Vaughan's comments were wide of the mark and hinted that they were made in order to raise the profile of Vaughan's paper and broadcast commitments.

"I don't think he's got much insight into the England changing room," Broad said after play. "I don't think the players talk to him about cricket or what's going on in the changing room. I think it was a wild guess. It's personal columns, it's radio shows which need likes and airtime isn't it.

"I called him. I'm friends with Vaughany. He was a fantastic captain to me, he gave me a great opportunity and I like sharing a glass of wine with him, he's great company. I called him and expressed my disappointment and he had his opinions on the headlines. I'm very open to criticism and I'm not going to hold a personal grudge, particularly if I feel like I deserve it but I didn't feel like I deserved that last week.

"I thought I'd express that opinion to him because there's no point it spinning around my mind annoying me. I might have reignited a few things this evening but I am sure he will be fine come Monday."

Broad didn't think the criticism had stung him into action but did admit that he felt under more pressure ahead of this Test. "I respect everyone's opinion most of the time, especially when it's fair. I've come under criticism a lot in my career and a lot of it has been justified. This time, it did anger me a little bit as I thought it was unfair and a bit targeted.

"Two Tests ago I got eight wickets in Christchurch, I've been beating the bat, I've been feeling in good rhythm. I felt like the criticism this week was unjustified. It did put me under a bit more pressure going into this game but part and parcel of our job is being able to deliver under pressure."

The 31 year-old finished with 3 for 38 and was the pick of England's bowlers as they bundled Pakistan out for 174 after the tourists had won the toss and elected to bat. Broad admitted he was surprised at how much the ball swung and seamed - "a decent toss to lose" - but was pleased that England had started to atone for their performance at Lord's.

"As a team we didn't do ourselves justice at Lord's at all so we left angry as players," he said. "It's always frustrating when you do a lot of talking and train hard going into a week and collectively put on a performance like that. We trained very specifically and well here at Headingley and for it to show through was great.

"What we did so much better here than at Lord's, we created pressure from both ends. If someone was in a really good spell, it was backed up at the other end and we starved Pakistan of free scoring opportunities. When you bowl your good ball, you get the wicket. It almost feels like a complete performance."

Anderson and Chris Woakes, recalled in place of Mark Wood, also ended up with three wickets each while Sam Curran, on his Test debut, picked up the final wicket to fall. After some criticism of the lengths England's seamers bowled at Lord's, they bowled noticeably fuller at Headingley which Broad said was down the pitch. "With the nip that was available today, it was really worthwhile throwing it fuller. But not every pitch is like that," Broad said.

© Cricbuzz

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