Stuart Broad emphasized that ”due to schedules, Covid and bubbles’, England put up a comparatively weaker side against New Zealand which resulted in them losing their first Test home series after seven long years.
Due to 3 big tournaments approaching; 5 match Test series against India, the T20 World Cup, and the Ashes – Stuart Broad clarified that team management has decided to give rest to some big players like Chris Woakes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali & Jonny Bairstow.
However, He quickly added that there would be no place to give excuses when they face off against India in August 2021.
“It’s heartbreaking to lose a first home Test series in seven years but let’s be realistic — due to schedules, Covid and bubbles, we were a weakened side. We will want our full-strength team on the field against India, in the Twenty20 World Cup and the Ashes. If we had our top team against New Zealand, where would we have given players a break? However, there will be no excuses when it comes to results from the India series onwards,” Broad wrote in his column in The Daily Mail.
Stuart Broad's return of 4/48 in the first innings has seen him overtake Courtney Walsh!
He sits firmly on No.6 in the all-time Test wicket-takers' list 👏 📈#ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/XN3RUUgUFN
— ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2021
In the last India tour of the England Test series, England won the series in a purely dominating manner defeating Men in Blue 4-1. This time in 2021 India has assembled a way stronger team than the previous time they toured England and is expected to give a tough challenge to them.
Had sympathy for some of the batsmen when their techniques were being dissected – Stuart Broad
Nasser Hussain didn't miss after England's second innings collapse 😬
(via @SkyCricket) | #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/XmMbnATBiA
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) June 13, 2021
England’s batting lineup was heavily criticized for the way the team surrendered against New Zealand, English Batsmen’s technique was considered terrible in that series. Fast bowler Stuart Broad mentioned that he had sympathy for his teammates and stated that living with such criticism is part of the game of cricket, especially at the top level.
“I had sympathy for some of the batsmen when their techniques were being dissected but at the top level you also deserve criticism at times. We drove at balls we didn’t need to drive at, were dismissed in ways that New Zealand planned to dismiss us — falling into traps is actually the most disappointing thing in Test cricket for a batsman,” Stuart Broad added.
Meanwhile, before playing the Test series against India, England will have to go through a 3 match T20I and 3 ODIs series against Sri Lanka starting on 23rd June.
