Spring has sprung, which means the Test match summer must be on the horizon. Here’s what Stuart Broad is looking forward to seeing…
It’s that time of the year when the domestic football season draws to a close and the focus switches to cricket.
Fans trade the City Ground for Trent Bridge… and what a season it’s been for Forest, there’s still two Cup finals to go to secure Champions League football next season!
Now, I’m really excited to turn my attention to cricket and what promises to be a big summer ahead for both England’s Men and Women.
I’ll start with England’s Women, who are entering a new era with Charlotte Edwards at the helm and, in my opinion, the world’s best cricketer — Nat Sciver-Brunt — leading the team on the field.
I can see her getting the best out of a really talented squad that blends youth and experience.
They’ve got some tough fixtures this summer against the West Indies and India, before heading to the subcontinent for a World Cup in India starting at the end of September.
Charlotte’s coaching record around the world is impressive — winning titles with Mumbai Indians in the WPL and Southern Brave in The Hundred.
I can see her getting the best out of a really talented squad that blends youth and experience.
England’s Men face the same opposition this summer — the West Indies in white-ball cricket and India in a Test series.
They begin with a one-off Test match against Zimbabwe at my old home ground, Trent Bridge.
Incredibly, England haven’t played Zimbabwe in a Test since 2003, when Jimmy Anderson made his debut at Lord’s. So, it feels strangely fitting that, in the first full summer without our greatest-ever bowler, we’re welcoming the same opposition.
England haven’t played a Test match since the tour of New Zealand at the end of last year. In what is a huge year — with a home series against India followed by the Ashes in November — it’s felt like quite a long break, especially given the modern schedule.
But I know the guys are really looking forward to getting back into it, and I’m really pleased with the squad that’s been selected.
Sam Cook has earned his call-up — a reward for his outstanding consistency with Essex over the last few years.
His name has been in the conversation for some time, and it would be great to see him get a chance if selected.
It’s also encouraging to see Josh Tongue back fit and firing. He was a great teammate during the last Ashes and adapted to Test cricket brilliantly.
He seems to find form against top opposition, and the stats back that up.
Some bowlers make an immediate impact on the international stage — he certainly did — and I’m excited to see him try to rediscover that form.
A lot of the talk — quite rightly — will be about India. You can’t mention India without bringing up 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who scored a remarkable century in the IPL at the end of last month.
At 14, I think I was still trying to land them in the river at Egerton Park CC in Melton Mowbray! India has always been known for producing precocious talent, but this lad looks like something else.
It would be brilliant for the longer format if he can evolve into a world-class Test batter — and he’s certainly got time on his side!
There’s been some chatter about Zak Crawley’s form coming into this summer, perhaps prompted by the strong early-season performances from Durham’s Ben McKinney.
McKinney’s talent is clear, but I’d still back Zak against the big sides.
He seems to find form against top opposition, and the stats back that up — his average is higher against India and Australia than other Test-playing nations. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a big summer.
When I was playing, we always said we’d take things one game at a time, and I’m sure the current squad will do the same.
I genuinely think our attacking batting line-up could take it to the Australian bowlers.
You can’t afford to have one eye on the Ashes when you’ve got six Tests against Zimbabwe and India first.
But now that I’m in the commentary box, I’m allowed to look ahead — and I genuinely think our attacking batting line-up could take it to the Australian bowlers.
They’re an experienced and talented group, no doubt, but the likes of Crawley, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Joe Root could really put them under pressure. If they do, we could see the change in fortune Down Under that England fans are craving.
It’s a huge year ahead in Test cricket. Come and say hi if you see me around the grounds this summer — and fingers crossed for two big series wins!
The guys at Fitzdares have given me a £500 free bet pot to use on a selection of the major sporting events of my choice. All the profits will go to The Broad Appeal, helping raise awareness and support for Motor Neurone Disease.
After nicely increasing the pot when Rory mastered Augusta, here’s what I’m going for this month…
£100 Rory McIlroy @ 9/2
The US PGA Championship, 15th — 18th May
£100 Northampton Saints @ 12/5
Champions Cup Rugby, 24th May
£100 Lando Norris @ 6/4
Monaco Grand Prix, 25th May
£100 Carlos Alcaraz @ 5/4
Men’s French Open, 25th May — 8th June
£100 Charley Hull @ 14/1
Women’s Open Championship, 31st July — 3rd August
Stuart Broad is Fitzdares’ Brand Ambassador.
