Stuart Broad still has ‘fire in the belly’ – don’t expect that to change anytime soon

The bowler has evolved over the years. He now sees himself as more of a controller of run rate than a devastator of top-orders – though that capacity is still there

Stuart Broad is still one of the most confident and charismatic sportsmen in the business (Getty)

Stuart Broad – taker of 483 Test wickets, creator and still the finest exponent of the #celebrappeal, master of comedy cricket – has an incredible memory.

He knows his statistics off by heart to such a degree that it was he who informed the press of the 100th chance dropped off his bowling during the first Ashes Test last summer.

On Thursday, the day before the fourth Test against South Africa, he recounted the time when AB de Villiers stated James Anderson had lost pace, enough to suggest the end was nigh. “Then AB got three noughts in a row and we moved on!” quipped Broad. Which is exactly what happened.

This was back in 2016 and in a series most famed for Broad and perhaps his second-best one of those spells moments after his eight for 15 against Australia in 2015. In the third Test, hosted at the same venue England will look to secure a 3-1 series win at, he took six for 17 which included a run of five wickets for just one run (including the first of those three de Villiers ducks).

The England Cricket Twitter account posted the video as a throwback Thursday this morning. Broad, naturally, watched it. I mean, why wouldn’t you? Interestingly, he didn’t retweet it. And, though it may surprise you, it is for exactly the same reasons why you might untag yourself from a photo on Facebook, or closely monitor what photos or videos of you get posted on social media.

“I’ve just watched it back on social media this morning. And it was probably less impressive than it felt!” Naturally, there were chuckles. But Broad was being deadly serious.

“I suppose I made the batsmen play. It wasn’t as if I was swinging it round corners and bowling jaffas. I had a bit of luck with Titch’s [James Taylor] incredible catch and Temba Bavuma ducking a top of off ball.

“It was a good spell in that we had a 13-run lead and it sort of sealed the series, but looking back this morning it wasn’t a particularly impressive spell of bowling. If you can create theatre as a fast bowler a lot of the time things will work for you as the pressure builds on a team. I felt there was theatre that day.”

The truth is, there is always theatre with Broad, whether he’s walking into a press conference at the Gabba, five wickets to his name with the paper under his arm who did him dirty the day before. Or even with his batting now, which has objectively gone to pot but is now a measure to try and confuse opposition attacks. It’s that kind of self-awareness that has become so quintessentially Broad.

Indeed, Broad and batting is now a form of artistic distraction. His defence is non-existent, his attack more in line with his golf game, but he appreciates the battle. He tries to be as awkward as possible and, when he does get a few away, carries on with some extra histrionics, though never for very long. A perennial David with a slingshot but no rock.

But with the ball, there has been an evolution. You might be surprised to hear that since that Wanderers spell, he has picked up just two five-wicket hauls in 47 Tests. Anderson has 10.

But Broad doesn’t mind. He sees himself as more of a controller of run rate than a devastator of top-orders. Don’t get him wrong, that capacity is still there: he has 12 wickets at 18s in this series and many of his incisions over the last few years have created opening for others to exploit. He now crafts the C4 for the breaching of even the most rigorous of barriacards rather than act as the battering ram outright. His personal expectations, as a result, have been tempered.

“For me, I’d much prefer to get Faf out this week and get one for 20 than four for 50 and get the bottom four out, and I think I’ve got a decent record against key batsmen in opposition teams and I’d much prefer it that way than being a good bowler against the tail.”

The reason he brings up the de Villiers anecdote about Anderson from four years ago is that Anderson was 33 at the time – Broad’s age now. Like the senior man then and now – Anderson’s rib injury aside – he says he is as fit as ever.

“I feel physically good, all my fitness tests have gone in the right way which at 33 can be something that can fold away. I feel in a really good place, I feel confident and more importantly, going 2-1 up to the Wanderers, I’m buzzing to get out there tomorrow which is always a good place to be.”

Stuart Broad celebrates taking Zubayr Hamza on day two of the second Test (Reuters)

And also like Anderson, he is likely to miss March’s two Tests against Sri Lanka. Typically, he wants to make the Ashes in 2021/22. But then again, when would he not want to? He’ll be in his rocking chair at the age of 70, teeth in a jar but still telling you how he’s feeling good, reciting his record against Australia, of 104 wickets, and saying: “I know I can still deliver when the heat is on and the pressure is burning. That excitement of bowling the first ball in Ashes series, I’m still living for that. I’ve still got a lot of fire in the belly and as soon as that fire goes I know my bowling boots will go. It’s still there.” Which is, word for word, what he said today.

Don’t mistake Broad’s change of tact for weakness, though. He has been buoyed by the injection of youth in the Test side and the enthusiasm each youngling brings to the dressing room, training and match situations.

He remains one of the most confident and charismatic sportsmen in the business. That veracity to be the man has been put into self-improvement. He tweaked his run-up last year, corrected his wrist-position and honed an already impressive running technique.

And, well, he is still Stuart Broad. Nothing sums that up more than his quip at the end of downplaying what influence would satisfy him in his 138th Test and, potentially, his last overseas.

“I’ve not had one of those spells where I’ve really snapped through a team. The Wanderers could be it.”

Of course it could. Not only does he know that, but so does everybody else.