Stuart Broad’s delight at taking his first five wicket haul in a year will be tempered by the knowledge that Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni will provide tougher opposition at Lord’s next week than Somerset’s tail did on Wednesday.
Somerset’s lower order is among the most fragile on the county circuit and Steve Kirby, Adam Dibble and Murali Kartik are hardly prized scalps.
But Broad was ruthless on a quick pitch and claimed three of the last five wickets that tumbled in ten overs.
Broad finished with five for 95, his best return since he took a career best eight for 52 against Warwickshire last season, a significant improvement on figures 15 for 832 in 190 overs in all cricket this season before this match.
“From my point of view he bowled with good pace, moved the ball off the pitch and through the air and to get five wickets was a fine return,” Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read said.
“Everyone knows he has been a little bit short of wickets in all form of the game since he came back from his injury so it’s pleasing for him to be in the wickets column again.”
Broad, who was again watched by national selector Geoff Miller, is expected to be included in the squad for Lord’s and Read believes that he remains a key member of the seam attack.
“I think he has been among the leaders of that England attack for the last couple of years, he’s still a young bowler but he bowls at 90mph and we know what he can do with his height and the bounce he can generate,” Read said.
Broad had nightwatchman Steve Kirby LBW backing away, unsettled debutant Dibble with one that bounced and left him and wrapped up the innings when Kartik was caught behind carving.
Alex Hales then ensured that Broad’s efforts were not wasted by stroking his way to a century which steadied the champions after a familiar early innings wobble.
Hales has already been touted as potential England one-day opener of the near future after some eye-catching innings in front of the television cameras.
He showed that he can play the longer game too by converting his sixth 50 in eight championship innings into his first century of the season and second of his career.
Nottinghamshire were tested by Kirby who ran in strongly all day and snarled and stared when he beat the bat but Hales won his battle with county cricket’s pantomime villain.
Hales offered two hard chances, including one to Chris Jones at mid off when he got a leading edge off Kirby, but otherwise he timed the ball beautifully in a 170-ball century that contained 15 fours and an off driven six off Kartik.
Adam Voges and Steven Mullaney helped Hales rebuild the innings with Voges contributing a rapid half century before he was bowled shouldering arms to give Dibble his maiden first-class wicket.
View the original article here
This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.
No comments:
Post a Comment