Stuart Broad: I was raging with Ashes snub – but I won't throw a tantrum this time

Stuart Broad was “raging” when he was left out of the England team for the first Test of the last Ashes series but says he has changed since and will accept not being picked at Edgbaston next week.

Broad did his chances no harm at all with five for 51 to set up the Ireland win last week but with James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood all expected to be fit for the Ashes opener, he could be edged out of the attack.

The injury to Jack Leach has raised the possibility of an all seam attack in Birmingham and Broad’s hold over David Warner will also boost his chances of playing. It is the trickiest selection decision of the Ben Stokes era.

Broad has done little to hide his disappointment when not picked in the past. He was angry in Brisbane when he and Anderson were not picked for the first Ashes Test on a green Gabba pitch. And when he was left out of a Test against West Indies in 2020 because England wanted extra pace, he lambasted the selectors and said he was “frustrated, angry and gutted” not to be playing.

But since then his position of seniority in the team has eroded, he is no longer first choice and he has more respect for the current management than he did those making decisions in the past. Stokes is also unlikely to put up with any histrionics and the last thing any of the players want to do now is put a foot wrong and miss out.

“Brisbane I was raging. So yeah, I’ve definitely changed,” Broad said. “And in a good way. I see my role as striking when I get the chance but also, we won’t be having interviews like the Ageas Bowl. I quite enjoy doing that but … but I’m very comfortable whether I play the first, second, third, fourth or fifth Test so long as I strike at some stage.

“I’m just really enjoying the environment. Communication is really clear, that we’re going to need everyone. It doesn’t feel like if you’re not in that first XI at Edgbaston that you won’t be in the first XI at Lord’s, it doesn’t feel like a closed shop in that way. It very much is, we need everyone.”

“And ultimately I’m just really enjoying being around the group. it’s a really addictive environment to be around, and I suppose the culture that Baz and Stokes have created, it is a one in, all in. we’re just happy for everyone’s success. So ultimately if I only play one game and we lift the urn at the Oval, that’s a massive tick in England cricket’s box. It’s not about me, it’s about the collective.”

Broad is the only fully fit senior bowler and he does have a good record at Edgbaston, averaging only 24. England will be happy to play Wood three times, and there is an argument he may be better suited to Lord’s, where an extra bit of pace is needed, as was shown by Ireland when the ball softened and the pitch flattened out.

However, that would run contrary to Brendon McCullum’s aim of playing the game in front of them, rather than planning for the next one down the line – something that hampered England in Australia 18 months ago. Broad said in Sydney that had to stop. “Can we get back to the real basics of what’s ahead of us right now? How are we winning this next Test match? I’d urge us as players to do that,” he said.

Hence pragmatism now about his own place. “I think ultimately as a team we’re going to need every bowler, and we’re going to need to take 100 wickets to win the Ashes,” he added.

“We’re obviously going to need to take 20 wickets at Edgbaston but we’re going to need guys fit and fresh to take 20 wickets at Manchester. So I don’t know how selection will go on Friday, whether they look at the records of certain bowlers at certain grounds and try and play those bowlers where they’ve bowled better, I’m not sure. But my ultimate aim is to be fit and fresh and playing at the Oval, because that’s the fifth and that means I’ve done my job for the group.”

England players have been rallying around Jack Leach since it was announced on Sunday he would miss the entire series with a back stress fracture.

The news stunned his team-mates. “Big blow. I was gutted,” said Broad. ”He was really sore through this Ireland game, bit of back stiffness then his calf hurt on the last day. I don’t know whether that was connected. “

“I saw him at breakfast on the Sunday morning and I don’t think he knew this sort of news was coming. He seemed quite chipper and fine. I texted him to let him know we were all in it for him.”

Stuart Broad was speaking at the launch of wine merchant Laithwaites’ partnership with England Cricket. For exclusive offers on great wines this summer, visit laithwaites.co.uk