Stuart Broad had passion to come back and improve after West Indies tour snub: Michael Atherton

Former England skipper Michael Atherton feels Stuart Broad’s passion helped him make a comeback into the team after West Indies tour snub. Broad was dropped from the Windies tour in 2022 but he was able to bounce back into the English team with consistent performances.

Broad on Friday confirmed that he will be hanging his boots from International career after spending 17 years at the top level. The lanky pacer is regarded as the best pacer England has ever produced along with James Anderson.

The fast bowler also completed the milestone of 600 Test wickets in the fourth Ashes Test against Australia when he dismissed Travis Head with a short-pitched delivery.

Broad also became the most successful bowler against Australia in Test matches, leapfrogging Sir Ian Botham’s tally of 149 wickets. The veteran pacer has scalped 20 wickets in the ongoing Ashes and will turn out for England for the one final time on Monday.

Michael Atherton said on Sky Sports, “Even the great players have to deal with difficult periods in their careers, you’ve got to keep coming back from them. Twelve months ago, he was left out for the tour of the West Indies.

“It would have been easy at that point to say ‘enough, I’m going to go into the commentary box’, but he had the passion and the desire to come back and improve.”

“Think of how he has improved to left-handers and coming around the wicket. He has become a nightmare to left-handers in the last third of his career.”

Broad did a fantastic job for England over the years and he will go down as one of the greatest fast bowlers to have ever graced the game.

Meanwhile, Australian openers – David Warner and Usman Khawaja – gave a perfect start to their team, adding 135 runs for the opening alliance in pursuit of 384. England will need 10 wickets on the final day to draw level whereas Australia requires 249 runs to win the Ashes.