For many years Stuart Broad has irritated me and not just because he plays for Notts. The main reason was Test after Test, watching Broad waste the new ball by bowling a couple of feet too short. I don’t just mean his ludicrous ‘enforcer’ phase. Then he bowled way too short, but I’m talking about those Tests with him bowling back of length, leaving no chance of bowling the opposition or getting an LBW decision. The latter when allied to his optimistic referrals would drive me insane.
I used to think why can’t he bowl like Jimmy, Jimmy pitches it up more. Jimmy gets LBWs and bowls people. Jimmy attacks the stumps.
It may have seemed harsh as most Test bowlers wish they could bowl like Jimmy and Broad had hundreds of wickets with an average under 30. I didn’t think Broad was a bad bowler, I just thought he bowled badly too often.
It may have seemed harsh as most Test bowlers wish they could bowl like Jimmy and Broad had hundreds of wickets with an average under 30. I didn’t think Broad was a bad bowler, I just thought he bowled badly too often.
A couple of years ago Jimmy got injured and panic ensued. What are we going to do without him. Now my memory of the timeline may be slightly off but it seems to me that this was the kick up the arse that Broad needed to ‘bowl like Jimmy’. Well not exactly like him, but bowl fuller and challenge the stumps. Suddenly his stock ball was a couple of feet fuller.
He started bowling people and his LBW appeals and referrals seemed less outrageous. His average for the last 2 years is under 22 and he has even scored runs again. If he stopped supporting Forest I might actually like him.
He started bowling people and his LBW appeals and referrals seemed less outrageous. His average for the last 2 years is under 22 and he has even scored runs again. If he stopped supporting Forest I might actually like him.
I thought great. When Jimmy is back we will destroy top orders in the first dozen overs of an innings, especially in England. Then Jimmy came back and did…ok. He wasn’t bowling as full as he used to. He wasn’t bowling ridiculously short. Just not quite full enough to get the most out of his swing and ensure those still excellent inswingers that still crashed into an opening batsmen’s pads weren’t going over the top. He was like john Bobbitt…6 inches short of a length.
Now this may be down to a lack of confidence as he makes his comeback. By dragging that length back you take less wickets but also go for less runs. It’s safety first bowling. With the new ball it’s all about wickets taken, not runs conceded.
It does annoy me that commentators talk about Tests against countries like West Indies and Pakistan as if they are Ashes warm up games rather than Test series against proud and talented teams.
It does annoy me that commentators talk about Tests against countries like West Indies and Pakistan as if they are Ashes warm up games rather than Test series against proud and talented teams. However it is the pinnacle for England and I’ve thought for a while that as Jimmy will be 39 in Australia in 16 months time. that not only is it likely to be Jimmy’s last Ashes but probably his last tour and maybe his last Test series. Down Under using the Kookaburra ball can be frustrating for swing bowlers as the swing often disappears completely after those first dozen overs. Therefore, it is so important we threaten the stumps with the new ball.
So after years of wanting Stuart to bowl like Jimmy, I now want Jimmy to bowl like Stuart. Just without the silly appeals and supporting a terrible team.