Fast bowler Stuart Broad admitted he doubted himself ahead of the Lord's Test but was happy to prove doubters wrong with a match haul of seven for 74 runs that helped England beat world No.1 India by 196 runs in the 100th Test between the two countries.
Fast bowler Stuart Broad admitted he doubted himself ahead of the Lord's Test but was happy to prove doubters wrong with a match haul of seven for 74 runs that helped England beat world No.1 India by 196 runs in the 100th Test between the two countries.
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"It was pleasing to come back into this Test series and do well. Because that was the first time I'd ever been doubted, or had a lot of criticism. To be able to put that to the back of my mind and perform like I did gave me a lot of confidence - because there are going to be times again when I am taking stick," he said.
Broad said criticism was a part and parcel of English cricketers' lives and he has learnt to cope with it.
"It happens to every player. It was Alastair Cook's turn last year, and Paul Collingwood's the year before. But it's certainly nice to be able to put those doubters to bed for a little while and get on with my cricket," England's Twenty20 captain was quoted as saying in The Daily Telegraph.
Broad has been the man under pressure this season. His selection for the Lord's Test ahead of Tim Bresnan was surprising given the fact that he had picked up just 10 wickets in the last five Tests at an average of 55.
Bresnan, however, bowled well in Melbourne and Sydney during England's Ashes win Down Under.
"You have to perform different roles at different times in different series. But I knew I wanted to pitch the ball up against India, especially after taking five wickets for Nottinghamshire that way just before the Test.
"When you bowl full, you take the risk of going for more runs, because it's easier to drive, and on a lot of Test pitches there's not much there for you.
"But with the ball just swinging a little at Lord's, a full length was the right option. I've never bowled as well throughout a Test as I did last week, because I was creating chances all the time," said Broad.
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