by sussexpob » Sun Jul 30, 2023 11:33 am
To play elite sport for 17 years, you need to be adaptable to the toll it takes on your body. For this reason, its normal that players who stick around for this long have to change, and can be somewhat hard to define when the dust settles on their career - in Broad's case, this is particularly difficult. In the end, players careers will be judged on the stats in the history books with very little context. On that regards, Broad will stand out for the longevity of his output, but in terms of quality, not extremely noticeable in the grand pantheon of historical legends. It feels both harsh, and true, to pigeon hole Broad's carer in such a way.
Add some context, and its easy to explain why he was more important than his stats suggest. In the burning detritous of the breakdown of the Fletcher era, the KP captaincy, and the Moores era that ended as abruptly as it started, he was in the side miles before he was ready as England's established stock of pace bowlers broke down. His figures reflect this - maybe if he had 2 or 3 extra years learning at the lower tier, his average would be better. And its easy to forget that the earlier part of his career spans a period where pace bowlers struggled across the board unless your name was Steyn.
How many players in history also played 17 years in an era of 3 formats and so much cricket? Maybe if he played 5 tests a year with no limited overs games, it's more comparable to those through history that will serve as a comparison. Its important in Broad's context, because being a consistent international front line player in every format took it's toll on his body. Even 10 years on, the management of pace bowlers is better, workloads are monitored, players rested - but this is a culture that was too late to maximise most of Broad's career. In the end we are left with a cricketer with many faces, and the feeling that to some extent there was potential left out on the field.
Back in 2007-09, he was the young, arrogant, combatitive embodiedment of cricketing entitlement - the son of a test player, public school, granny killer looks - as a cricketer he was raw, bowled quickly and too short, wanted the bounce and nip to do all the work. He then developed swing as a weapon, and used it to his advantage well.... but then, the toll of 3 formats really appeared to take its toll. The pace went down. England decided bizarrely to reduce his excellent swing bowling to being the person in the attack who just ran in and tested the middle of the deck. It felt a waste.
I guess every cricketer would like to have their career again blessed with the knowledge of what they have learned in older age, but in Broad's case, I think he is a number 1 candidate for this. Given another time, other circumstances, better coaches... I think he could have been a generational talent. When England managed his workloads, and when he has been fit enough to perform to his best, then left to bowl in the way most consistent with his talent, he's been a wonderful pro. But more than anyone, it has always felt like things always conspired against him somewhat.
As a character, he has also gone through a lot of transitions. First we had the entitled public school brat, which gave way to the pernnially angry fast bowler with some combat and willingness to spit a few words at the batter. On occasions this pushed him to the wrong side of acceptability, most noticably the edge that never was, but more so when I felt he was tremendously lucky not to get busted for ball tampering in South Africa, where he clearly sunk his studs into the rough side of the ball. Then we had the enforcer, which was pretty pathetic, before lastly becoming a statesman figure for the team in maturity - I have always assumed that the Nighthawk moniker was a p*ss take, and tongue in cheek. The abuse in Australia he received felt in many ways a transition point. He took it with maturity and good humour, and felt the point at which Broad transitioned into a mature cricketer.
In the end, Broad leaves a legacy of being a decent guy, and a great servant to English cricket. And 17 years at the top is all you need to say aobut his dedication to his craft and off-field professionalism. I wish him well in retirement, and no doubt expect he will be in the Sky box within 12 months. Many thanks, Stu.... some great memories in there.
Still, for me... what could have been given another time or circumstances?
2010 French Open fantasy league guru 2010 Wimbledon fantasy league guru 2014 Masters golf fantasy guru 2015 Players Championship FL Guru 2016 Masters Golf Fantasy Guru
And a hat and bra to you too, my good sirs!
What a career, what a competitor.
