Blond ambition

Stuart Broad hopes he will be celebrating at Lord's this week © Getty Images

Stuart Broad's memories of Lord's are limited to watching the action from the stands - something he wants to change on Thursday.

The Nottinghamshire fast bowler used to visit the famous ground regularly as a youngster but having been selected in the squad for the first Test against New Zealand, he is now keen to leave his mark as a player.

The signs look good too. After making his Test debut against Sri Lanka in December, Broad was brought back into the side for back-to-back Test wins against the Black Caps as England recovered from one down to snatch the series.

The inclusion of the ever reliable Matthew Hoggard in the party of 12 ensures competition for places but Broad is a decent bet to fulfill a childhood ambition this week.

"It's every player's dream to play in the first Test at Lord's so it would be a dream come true if I am selected," Broad told ecb.co.uk. "The whole family would be down here. I am going to push hard this week and try and get in the side. I'll have to wait until Thursday to see if I am selected."

The 21-year-old's strongest memory of Lord's is watching South Africa pummel England by an innings and 92 runs five years ago. South Africa captain Graeme Smith was the chief tormentor, cracking a monumental 259 en route to successive double centuries against England.

"Ever since I was young my grandad used to take me to the Test at Lord's," he added. "I came to quite a few games but my most vivid memory is England v South Africa.

"It's strange as Jimmy Anderson bowled that day and now I am playing with him.

Broad dismisses Brendon McCullum on the recent tour to New Zealand © Getty Images

"Lord's is a great place to come as a spectator and a fantastic place to play. There is the famous slope but not many grounds are even. It can help move the ball down the slope and attack the stumps while at the other end it can move away and get a nick.

"It's a good place to bowl. Hopefully the sun doesn't continue for too long, otherwise it'll be an absolute road."

Despite losing the likes of Stephen Fleming, Shane Bond and Chris Cairns in recent years, the new-look New Zealand side are unlikely to roll over, as they proved in the spring.

Daniel Vettori's side won in Hamilton but showed backbone during defeats in Wellington and Napier, where they rattled up a gallant 431 in their second innings as they went in search of an unlikely 552 to win.

"It was a tough series," insisted Broad, whose father Chris scored six centuries in 25 Tests. "We went 1-0 down and showed a lot of character to win 2-1.

"It's going to be two youngish sides playing each other, which will be fantastic to see. They have warmed up nicely and are a really battling side. It'll be a hard-fought series and I think that's what everyone wants to see. It'll be thoroughly enjoyable to play in.

"Fleming is a big loss - he's been fantastic for years. But they have Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori and Jamie How is a very good player. They will be excited about their future like we are."

But you will struggle to find someone more excited than Broad if he gets the nod on Thursday.