Stuart Broad opens up after getting dropped for WI series
Veteran English seamer Stuart Broad recently opened up on his axing from England's Test squad for their upcoming tour of West Indies. Broad, in his column for the Daily Mail, wrote that he was informed about his omission during a "five-minute phone call". He further said that the said call has affected his sleep and left him "confused and angry".
Why does this story matter?
England's leading wicket-taker James Anderson has also been left out of England's squad for their tour of the Caribbean. Anderson and Broad's axing has come in the wake of their recent Ashes (0-4) humiliation in Australia. Notably, Broad picked 13 wickets in three games in the Ashes to finish as England's second-highest wicket-taker after Mark Wood (17).
What did Broad write in his column?
"I always try to find a positive in the hand that has been dealt to me," Broad wrote. "To be honest, though, that's been quite tricky this time because the decision to leave me out of the tour of West Indies has hit me pretty hard. Not to big it up too much but it has affected my sleep," he added.
Everything is not okay!
"I said to my partner Mollie one morning that my body felt sore," Broad revealed. "She suggested that would be stress. No, I can't pretend I am as good as gold, because I am not. It would be wrong to act like everything's OK."
Broad on his recent form
"The only positive I can cling to is that my form - and you could add Jimmy Anderson's recent performances to this too - has been good," he said. "And so, it makes it even more upsetting that they don't see me part of their immediate plans, especially with a view to looking at a way of winning away from home," he added.
A look at Broad's numbers in Tests
Broad is a veteran of 152 Tests. He has picked 537 wickets in the format at an impressive average of 27.80. Broad is England's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, after Anderson (640), and sixth-highest overall. The Brit has taken 19 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls in his career. He has scored 3,412 runs in Tests with the help of 13 fifties and one ton.
England versus West Indies schedule
The first Test between England and West Indies will be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, starting March 8. The second game between the two nations is scheduled to take place between March 16 and 20 at Kensington Oval. The final Test will be played at National Cricket Stadium from March 24 to 28.
