On Day 4 of the ongoing Lord’s Test against New Zealand, England pacer Stuart Broad has urged his teammates to maintain their newfound optimism.
Broad also praised Joe Root and described him as one of the calmest and best England batters of all time.
Root batted brilliantly on Day 3 of the Lord’s Test against New Zealand’s world-class pace attack, reaching 77 at stumps with England needing 61 runs with five wickets in hand to win the match and take the series lead.
Stuart Broad is confident about England winning the First Test vs New Zealand
The first Test between England and New Zealand is currently underway, with England needing 61 runs to win with five wickets in hand. England is chasing 277 runs to win and has Joe Root on 77, while Ben Stokes also scored a crucial half-century before being dismissed in the final hour of play.
Ben Foakes, on the other hand, did well to stick with the former captain until the end of the game. Stuart Broad deserves credit for England’s ability to make a comeback and be in a winning position.
New Zealand was in command when the day began, but Broad sparked a stunning collapse, taking three wickets and reducing the Kiwis to 251/7. The visitors, who appeared to be on track to meet a 350-run target earlier, were bowled out for only 285 runs. It gave England a realistic chance of winning, and Root held one end well despite the home side struggling at one point at 69/4.
Broad appeared confident in his team’s chances of taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the end of the day’s play. He praised Joe Root for a fine knock, while also praising Foakes for sticking around so far. On the other hand, the pace bowler stated that on Day 4, the lower-order batters will have to contribute as well.
“It’s had a bit of everything. It’s up to us as a group of players to do everything we can to get over the line, and it would be very special, but if it doesn’t work that way we step up to the plate in Nottingham. But I’ve got a really good feeling about tomorrow. Joe Root is one of the calmest, England’s best-ever batsmen, and Foakesy I thought settled really nicely, and then it’s going to be up to the lower order to chase these runs, so it’s set up to be a brilliant morning,” Stuart Broad said.
“We were a bit disappointed yesterday afternoon…they played really well for their runs. We knew we had to strike with the new ball because the Test match was riding on it. If New Zealand gets 340-350 it’s a different game. I really enjoyed the feeling of getting the crowd going, and lifting the energy in the stadium. The crowd responded brilliantly and so did the players,” Broad added.
England veteran fast bowler Stuart Broad said he had a “good feeling” about the fourth day of the first test between his side and New Zealand at Lord’s, with England requiring 61 runs to claim victory on Sunday. https://t.co/Rsk9lwGOmi
— Reuters Sports (@ReutersSports) June 5, 2022
