Warner not the only reason Broad was picked

Cricket: English batter, Harry Brook has dsicussed the preparation of coming up against the Aussies in the upcoming Ashes and their plan of attack.

There will also be a Birmingham roar for the local lad, Moeen Ali, whose return to Test cricket was confirmed in the team that was announced on Wednesday afternoon. Given his retirement from the format and absence from first-class cricket since September 2021, Ali’s initial selection was a confounding one, and hard to justify, but with the forecast fine and the pitch biscuit-coloured, he was always going to play once selected.

Ali was missing from training on Wednesday, receiving his OBE at the Palace, and there will be calls for a knighthood for Broad if he can continue his hold over Warner, that being one reason, but not the only reason, he has been favoured over Wood. Warner showed himself to be vulnerable to Broad’s round-the-wicket angle in England last time, dismissed seven times for a series average of 9.5, and Australians looked on disbelievingly two years ago when Broad was omitted for the first Test of the series in Brisbane.

The reasons for his omission then were as much to do with his lack of bowling and recent injury concerns, and those same factors have played in his favour this time. Broad has played more recently – and with success – than the others. The Ireland Test was of limited value for many, but not for Broad, who took five wickets in the first innings and six in the match, reminding everyone of his enduring skill and competitiveness.

Just as important, perhaps, is the feeling that Broad is made for the occasion. Like many of England’s best cricketers, he raises his game against Australia. Only three bowlers in history have taken more Ashes wickets and the sense of theatre and the intensity of the competition, which increases a notch or two in the Ashes, have always brought out the best in him. He loves the contest and with the first match of the series being so important, Stokes knows he has a character upon whom he can rely.

Had Broad been omitted, the selectors would have been nervous about an attack including James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who have not bowled for a month, Wood, who has not bowled in first-class cricket since December, Ali, who has not bowled with a red ball for nearly two years, and Stokes, with his heavily bandaged knee. Broad provides a little more certainty, but it leaves England with a lack of genuine pace.

In an ideal world they would surely have preferred one 90mph bowler, but with Jofra Archer and Olly Stone injured and Wood overlooked here, they will have to rely on craft and guile on a pitch that still boasted 12mm of grass on Wednesday afternoon. There were times in the Ireland Test when England did look one-paced, and Travis Head, in particular, who looked vulnerable to the short ball against India, will be happy not to have anyone clocking in at over 90mph. Wood also had notable successes against Marnus Labuschagne and Smith in the previous Ashes series.

Whether the old firm, Broad and Anderson, will be united with the new ball again remains to be seen. Robinson has usurped Broad as a first-choice pick and will have plenty of opportunity to put his nightmarish Ashes of 2021-22 to bed. He will be intent on showing Australia that he is fitter and more able to last the course than appeared to be the case last time.

Even so, it is a remarkable feat for Broad and Anderson to be looming before Australia again. This will be Anderson’s tenth Ashes, Broad’s ninth. Colin Cowdrey and Jack Hobbs played in ten each, Wilfred Rhodes and Johnny Briggs one more than that. None was a fast bowler, of course. Benedict Bermange, the statistician, suggests that should they take the new ball they will be the oldest in combined years to do so in an Ashes Test since Bert Ironmonger (46) and Clarrie Grimmett (36) at Brisbane in 1928.

– The Times