London: England's Stuart Broad believes that he along with James Anderson form the country's "best bowling attack" and there are not many who will have an iota of doubt about their capabilities.
Broad expressed apprehension over his ouster from the team last year in the first Test against West Indies even as the selectors had said that they were proffering the best England's outfit. He further opened up on how mistrust loomed large during Ed Smith's tenure as a national selector.
Although, Broad had made an excellent comeback to the side in the rest of the two matches.
"Last year I was disgruntled because the selectors had said the first Test team of the summer will be our best team. For someone who had been through the Ashes successfully, been through South Africa successfully and stayed fit, I felt it was my shirt. I felt I was in the best team. So to be told I suddenly wasn't in the best team with my record in England, that's what upset me," a leading media outlet quoted Broad as saying.
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"Is it realistic I'm going to play every Test? No. But if the communication is done well then you understand the reasons for it. You understand why you might miss certain games to be fit for other games. That along with building experience into different players. If I had a choice I'd want to play all seven Tests. Part of the reason I don't play white ball cricket any more is so I'm fit and available for Test cricket and fresh when I'm needed. But if Chris Silverwood decides he needs to get experience into some players and have a look at a different line-up and it's explained in a good way... absolutely, I would understand," he said.
Broad has made it clear that he is available and fit for every Test match for England. "I pride myself on being available and ready. I'm bowling well, taking wickets for Notts and helping win games. I don't think many could argue against Jimmy and I being in the best bowling attack in England, but if you need to get experience and overs into bowlers that is what it is."
"It's when the communication disappears; that's when players can't see reasons or see through it. You can say [Smith's period as National Selector] was a success in the sense that the team won games and a World Cup. And he brought some fine players through," Broad said.
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Throwing light on his relationship with Smith, he said, "But from my point of view we struggled a bit on the communication side and probably saw the game of cricket slightly differently. A lot of people have bosses who don't rate them as much as other people and I think he was mine. He probably didn't rate me as much as other players. That's fine but I kept trying to prove some selection decisions wrong."
"I really disagreed with getting left out in Barbados [at the start of 2019]. It's one of the best places to bowl as a tall fast bowler. And there are a few occasions where I have felt a bit disgruntled and didn't have the clarity of communication that I would have liked. That Test I missed at the Ageas Bowl is the only English Test I've missed in what, 10 years? And that was through selection," he said.
Beginning on 2nd June, England will face New Zealand in what could be an enthralling contest between two strong teams. The Three Lions also have a five-match series in their calendar against World No.1 India in August.
