Broad plans to strike it big

Stuart Broad hopes his three-wicket haul in the final npower Test against South Africa can help establish him as one of England’s front-line seamers in the future.

The 22-year-old Nottinghamshire bowler claimed 3-44 in the tourists’ second innings, the second haul of three wickets or more in his Test career, as England dismissed their opponents for 318, despite AB de Villiers’ determined 97, to set up a victory target of 197 for today’s final day at the Brit Oval.

It was an encouraging comeback from Broad after he claimed 10 wickets in his previous five npower Tests this summer, prompting the selectors to give him a rest for last week’s third match at Edgbaston.

Stuart Broad flattens Neil McKenzie's middle stump to take the first of his three second-innings wickets

But his two late wickets yesterday as South Africa lost their last three batsmen for five runs have boosted his confidence again as he attempts to develop into one of England’s main bowlers.

“In my career I’d like to become a strike bowler and a new-ball bowler for England, but you have to earn that right” said Broad, who has been used as a fourth seamer in a five-man attack during the current Test.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying Test match cricket and hopefully a haul will come at some stage.

“It’s stood me in good stead because I think after about 10 one-day internationals I only had about five wickets, and at that time I was thinking about how I was going to get international wickets and after 30 I’ve got 40-odd now.

“Not getting wickets at the start of my international career is not something I’m panicking about - you learn how to get international wickets and hopefully this is a start that can spur me on.”