Nottinghamshire and England all-rounder Stuart Broad has spoken about not walking in this summer’s first Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
In England’s second innings, Broad edged Ashton Agar to slip, via Brad Haddin’s gloves, but umpire Aleem Dar gave him not out. Australia, having misused their two reviews, couldn’t appeal the decision.
“No. We’d have lost the game,” he said, on being asked whether he regrets the event.
“I have never been a walker so why would I walk because the umpire had given me not out?”
"We are not playing for a cheese sandwich. We’re playing in an Ashes series." - Stuart Broad
Broad’s decision to stay at the crease was met with outrage from Australian quarters, as well as sparking a large debate in the cricketing media as to the ‘spirit of the game’.
“Cricket is quite an old-fashioned sport and is still viewed in some quarters as ‘you should have a cup of tea and everything will be fine’,” he said.
“Lets make no mistake about it. We are not playing for a cheese sandwich. We’re playing in an Ashes series.
“I think I will get singled out for some stick but I’m not going to take that as a personal attack.
“Guys come out to the cricket to have a few beers and a bit of banter and then they go home and chill.”
It would be easy to be intimidated in situations like that. Add a hostile crowd to an already tense match and it’s entirely possible that it could lead to a lapse in concentration. For Broad, however, it’ll be a case of business as usual.
I wouldn’t say I enjoy it, but I think it will improve my cricket,” he said.
“I tend to thrive off big games.
“I love the moments in games that something needs to happen. I think when I am getting a bit of stick it will give me a bit more.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann didn’t mince his words on the incident – labeling Broad ‘a blatant cheat’ in a radio interview ahead of the final Test in this summer’s series. Broad, however, refused to be drawn into a war of words with Lehmann.
"Lehmann will try mind games, but you'd expect Australia to try to get inside our bubble," he said.
"It's like a big fight - all the trash talk that goes before it. We are the side that don't need to get involved in that.
"We're very happy with where we are as a team. We've got some skilful players, guys who are hungry to perform in Australia - we don't need to comment on Australia."
It has also been confirmed that Nottinghamshire’s Broad and Graeme Swann will be joined by Harry Gurney for the upcoming tour. Gurney will be in place to provide left-armed net practice alongside Tymal Mills for England’s batsmen.