Stuart Broad thinks that missing England’s 2017 trip of the West Indies helped rescue his Test career.
England defeated 1-0 in a series played on dead pitches without Broad and his regular new-ball partner James Anderson.
Broad was England’s top wicket-taker in the home summer after he and Anderson were called up.
Broad remarked, “I don’t think it was planned that way by the selectors, but I count myself as quite lucky.
Before England’s two-Test series against New Zealand got underway in Mount Maunganui on Thursday at 1:00 GMT, Broad said: “I’m not sure I would be here now if I had gone there on those fields. That choice may have saved my career.
I wouldn’t have chosen to miss the Caribbean, but looking back a year, it was a fantastic thing that happened to me.
After Australia’s 4-0 Ashes loss, which resulted in the dismissal of director of cricket Ashley Giles and coach Chris Silverwood, Broad and Anderson were not included in the team almost precisely one year ago.
As part of interim managing director Andrew Strauss’ “red-ball reset,” a rebuilt team was selected for West Indies, but the defeat there increased England’s losing streak to one victory in 17 Test matches, which led to Joe Root’s departure as captain.
Ben Stokes was named captain, and Brendon McCullum was named coach by new director of cricket Rob Key, igniting an incredible comeback that has seen England win nine of their last 10 Test matches.
No bowler in the world has taken more wickets during that period than the 40-year-old Anderson, and Broad would rank higher than fourth if he hadn’t missed the tour of Pakistan in December due to the birth of his daughter Annabella.
Broad feels that he deserves to restore his spot for the day-night series opener against the Black Caps despite not playing in England’s record 3-0 series victory.
According to Broad, if he had participated in the two tours he missed, he would have finished the previous year as the leading wicket-taker in the world.
“I’m playing a job that Baz and Stokesy have requested of me, and I’ve contributed to a lot of winning Test matches in the past year,” he said.
Broad, who is 36 years old, declined to discuss his long-term plans because it is “tiresome to look too far ahead,” but he does not believe that the tour of New Zealand will be his last as an England player.
The Nottinghamshire player added that the flamboyant style favored by Stokes and McCullum makes playing for England “addictive” after a 159-match career in which he has taken 566 wickets.
You simply never know what will occur, Broad remarked. “It draws you in. You desire to see it.
While there are instances when we must deal with pressure, other times the players play so freely.
“You don’t want to miss a reverse-scoop from Joe Root or a six-run slap from Harry Brook over mid-wicket. You desire to view it. It’s quite addictive to participate in.
